Bulgaria OKs 3 bases for U.S. troops

The Washington Times ^ | April 24, 2006 | Nicholas Kralev

[neverdem]

    Bulgaria has agreed to open three military bases to permanent use by 2,500 U.S. troops who would be available for combat in the Middle East and other nearby regions. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will seal the deal when she visits the country this week.

    Miss Rice, who leaves on a trip to the Balkans today, is expected to sign a broad defense-cooperation agreement with the new NATO ally that would authorize the stationing of foreign forces on its soil for the first time in its 1,325-year history, U.S. and Bulgarian officials said.

    The final draft of the agreement, which was seen by The Washington Times, allows the United States to deploy troops from the bases for missions in third countries without the specific permission of the Bulgarian authorities, a sensitive matter for many Bulgarians.

    "One of the key issues anywhere is our ability to use our soldiers where we need them," said a senior U.S. official. "Otherwise, we would be tying ourselves [down]. The old model [during the Cold War] was that we had forces in Europe because we thought we'd fight in Europe."

    The possibility that U.S. troops would use a country with a large Muslim minority as a base for an attack on a Muslim nation, such as Iran or Syria, has provoked vocal opposition in Bulgaria. A nationalist party represented in the parliament plans to stage massive protests against the agreement during Miss Rice's visit.

    Another difficult issue during the negotiations involved jurisdiction over any crimes committed by U.S. military personnel in Bulgaria. It was resolved in a convoluted 10-line sentence, which the senior U.S. official said is standard for such documents.

    "The Bulgarians waive the right to primary jurisdiction, but, in cases of particular importance, they recall the waiver..."

[Centurion2000]

Well there's a place I never thought we'd put a base.

If they put it on the coast we can send the US Navy into the Black Sea.

[moose2004]

Hello Putin, can you hear us now?

[Grzegorz 246]

Eastern European ping list

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FRmail me to be added or removed from this Eastern European ping list

[Daus]

Sorry. No Navy base. :)

Officials of both countries said the United States will not pay rent for its use of the Bezmer and Graf Ignatievo air bases and the Novo Selo army training range and storage facility. But, according to the agreement, it will cover "operational and maintenance expenses."

[dfwgator]

I'll have to put this in my CD player tonight in honor of the Bulgarians.

[bnelson44]

Is this where Dracula was from?

[DTogo]

I think that was Romania.

[mathprof]

Transylvania, Romania.

[AzSteven]

...that would authorize the stationing of foreign forces on its soil for the first time in its 1,325-year history, U.S. and Bulgarian officials said.

Bad reporting - Bulgaria was 'host' to garrison troops from Nazi Germany in WW2, and the USSR after WW2. The German numbers were not large, but they had a fighter wing there and ground forces as well. The Soviets had a larger force there to support the Bulgarian army against any surprise attacks by the bloodthirsty ravenous NATO hordes just over the border in Turkey and Greece, as well as the vicuous counter-revolutionary forces of Yugoslavia and any dangerous Boy Scout troops touring old Greek ruins nearby...

[moog]

any dangerous Boy Scout troops touring old Greek ruins nearby...

Yeah, those morally straight boys from Kalamazoo can sure pack a punch.

[familyop]

We have quite a few bases and posts close to Iran on all sides now.

[Bob J]

What it means is if nobody finds out, then they waive.

[Bob J]

BTW - It's a "don't ask don't tell" policy.

[goresalooza]

Remember how knackered the Germans were after Rummy told them he was going to close or downsize some of our bases there? LMAO...they must be reeling now since we are giving the Bulgarians business.

[traviskicks]

lol

[Neophyte]

True for the Nazi forces, but Soviets had never substantial garrisons in Bulgaria - they dominated the country in many other ways. I think the explanation is that neighbouring Turkey was a NATO member, so big Soviet bases would be a challenge to the pact which Kremlin wanted to avoid.

However, for a short time in 1944-46, when the USSR declared a war to Bulgaria and took over its territory, the presence of their occupying force allowed the marginal local commies to stage a coup and for the next 45 years to rape the country.

[hinckley buzzard]

Sorry. No Navy base. :)

I seem to recall a posting that indicated that we will be having a naval presence in the Black Sea, however. I can't remember the details, but it was rather exciting news at the time. Perhaps someone else can help out this patchy memory.

[null and void]

Remember how knackered the Germans were after Rummy told them he was going to close or downsize some of our bases there?

Hey Krauts! Be careful what you wish for...

[PzLdr]

Wallachia.