[goldstategop]

Actually its the opposite. The locals decided they want us around to protect them from Al Qaeda and to run interference with their own government. Plus they're beginning to realize keeping Americans around is good for business. After awhile, no one thinks of it as an occupation and no country has ever asked us to leave and we would be gone from Germany, Japan and South Korea if the host governments requested us to go. They haven't.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[DGHoodini]

I like your point,and think they have much validity. but it’s not accurate in it’s absoluteness. The Phillipenes asked us to leave..We left...Can’t really say they’ve benefited greatly from it. In fact, they seem to be wracked with a great deal *more* internal strife, and a stagnating economy since we’ve pulled out.

[Centurion2000]

and no country has ever asked us to leave

Well, there was the naval base in the Phillipines ... Subic Bay?

[Non-Sequitur]

After awhile, no one thinks of it as an occupation and no country has ever asked us to leave and we would be gone from Germany, Japan and South Korea if the host governments requested us to go. They haven't.

We were in Germany, Japan, and Korea for 50 years because of the Soviet Union and no other reason. We were not there to protect the local populace from their government. If that is our purpose in remaining in Iraq then sooner or later we're going to be caught between the two.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

There have been countries to ask us to leave, and we have left graciously. We left Panama, we left the Philippines, we left France.

We are still in Japan, South Korea, Germany, Italy, and the UK.

Alright, so there is one country that asked us to leave, and we gave a big “NO” to: Cuba.

[CMAC51]

After awhile, no one thinks of it as an occupation and no country has ever asked us to leave...

Actually the Philippines did and now they are begging for us to come back.

[Justa]

This proposal is interesting. I view it as stability + protecting Iraq from Iran. Locating the US bases outside of the cities would be more to do with a confrontation with Iran than Iraq stabilization. So we’d be a double positive to them for stabilization and protection. As for us leaving well I believe the Phillipines asked us to leave -and we did so it’s not without precedent.