No Permanent Bases

No Permanent Bases: Passed Both Houses, Removed in Conference Committee

"'With no opposition' voiced by any members, both houses of Congress have passed 'similar but not identical bills' with portions forbidding the funding of permanent military bases in Iraq?'the prospect of which is among the causes of anti-American unrest.' But the conference committee that would normally reconcile the differences of the two versions instead, 'behind closed doors this week, resolved that non-difference by deleting it.'

This would appear to be a blatant violation of the rules of Congress and an unconstitutional voiding of the will of the people as expressed by their representatives and senators. But it can't appear that way to a people that knows nothing about it. And it does not appear that way at all to the journalists who inform the public of its government's doings.... The newspapers are full of stories about things the conference committee did yesterday. None of the stories that I've seen mention the removal of the language about permanent bases."