Condoleezza Rice Watch: United States Signs Deal for First Permanent Military Base in Ex-Soviet Bloc

AFP has US signs deal for first permanent military base in ex-Soviet bloc

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed a historic agreement with Romania to establish a permanent US military base in the country, the first ever in a former Warsaw Pact nation. Rice, in Bucharest on the second leg of a four-nation European tour, signed the accord with Romanian Foreign Minister Razvan Ungureanu at a public ceremony in the Romanian capital.

“It is a remarkable thing to think that some 16 years after the collapse of communism here in Romania… we would be signing an agreement that will allow America to have forces” in Romania, Rice told a press conference at the elegant Cotroceni Palace.

“It is fitting that the United States and Romania are not just friends but our forces are brothers and sisters in arms,” she said, adding: “We know we have a great and committed partner in Romania.”

Romania has 860 troops with the US-led coalition in Iraq, as well as soldiers in Afghanistan. Romanian President Traian Basescu said at the press conference his country would stay with the Americans “to the end” of the mission.

Thanks to President Ronald Reagan for ending The Cold War.

And it is nice to have friends to help fight the Global War on Terror……now go and talk to Howard Dean.