US BASES IN IRAQ Question: Is DOD considering long-term basing of US or coalition forces in Iraq? Answer: • As Secretary Rumsfeld has said, the subject of permanent bases has never been discussed at any meeting that he had attended. We have all kinds of options in that part of the world. There is no need for new facilities. Long-term bases conveys th impression that we are an occupying power, which we do not intent to be.