Oct 18, 2006

Following hints U.S. troops may remain in Iraq for years, the United States is reportedly building a massive military base at Arbil, in Kurdish northern Iraq.
      Zaman, quoting a news article published on the Firat news agency Web site, which is known to have close connections to the Kurdish Workers' Party, or PKK, reported on Oct. 15 that the base -- along with a smaller facility -- is part of the Pentagon's larger strategic involvement in the Middle East.
      According to the Firat report, U.S. officials -- in agreement with the regional Kurdish administration in northern Iraq -- have begun to construct a military airport in Arbil, while a smaller military airfield will be established in Suleymaniyah.
      Companies close to the Turkish army are providing technical material for the bases, with container loads of building supplies being transported into northern Iraq through the Habur border gate crossing.
      Operations currently carried out from the U.S. military base and airfield at Incirlik, in southern Turkey, will reportedly be transferred to the Arbil base upon its completion.