There have been some indications (and wild rumors) that this deal is hung up because the US wants so many bases in Iraq after the original deployment is over. This is a misunderstanding of what the treaty is for; it authorizes US presence in the country for a set number of years. As such, for the forseeable future, US troops will still need several dozen places from which to deploy to assist the Iraqi army.It is extremely unlikely - as some reports have it today - that the US is seeking 58 permanenet bases in Iraq. That number may eventually be 3. But it goes to show you what a little propoganda can do to negotiations:The deadline for the deal is July:We're confident it can be achieved, and by the end of July deadline," David Satterfield told reporters in Baghdad's U.S.-guarded Green Zone. The pact also would provide a legal basis for keeping American troops in Iraq after the U.N. mandate expires at the end of the year.But tempering the optimism were recent reports in Iraq and...(Read Full Post)