Is the US Planning New Bases in Kurdistan?

June 1, 2007 (LPAC) - The question is raised by Juan Cole, President of the Global Americana Institute, who reports on a Kurdish language article in Sulmaniya-Hawlati on May 30.

The article, entitled, "Iraqi Kurdish Officials Deny US Bases To Be Opened in Kurdistan Region," cites "exclusive military sources" who told the paper that "US forces intend to open three huge US military bases in the Arbil, Duhok, and Al-Sulaymaniyah areas. The three bases will be located in Qaradagh (south of Al-Sulaymaniyah), Zakho area (north of Duhok), while the third one will be based near Arbil." The report continues: "There is also a possibility that the Incirlik base in Turkey, opened in 1992, will be transferred to the Kurdistan Region, which is heralded as an important achievement by Kurdistan regional government military officials who said they would welcome such requests from the coalition forces."

The report was denied by some Kurd officials. However, Kurdistan Region Armed Forces Spokesman Maj-Gen Jabbar Yawar was quoted saying: "We would welcome such a request because we and the US are allies. As far as I know, such a request was not made."

On the issue of Incirlik, the Kurdistan Region's minister for Peshmerga affairs, Ja'far Mustafa, stated: "Such a request has not been tabled officially and I am not aware of it. If the US does that, we will welcome it and that would be a good and important achievement for us."

It has been known previously, that the US has been building up to 9 permanent military bases in Iraq, including in the Kurdish region. This new report seems to indicate plans for expanding existing facilities.