"But I say one thing, permanent forces or bases in Iraq for any foreign forces is a red line that cannot be accepted by any nationalist Iraqi," he said, speaking to Dubai-based al Arabiya television in an interview broadcast late on Monday.
Don't worry about this statement. It is mere boilerplate pro forma opposition. Just before this, he stated:
"We need the United States in our war against terrorism, we need them to guard our border sometimes, we need them for economic support and we need them for diplomatic and political support."
So, other than internal and external military support and economic, diplomatic, and political support, our troops won't be needed there.
We will have significant forces in Iraq for some time. But permanently? Wouldn't dream of that.
