Bases in Iraq

I heard General Petraeus, in an interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, say that a national security objective of the U.S. was a more-or-less permanent military presence in Iraq. Will someone please explain to me why we need military bases in Iraq once we extricate ourselves from this quagmire of civil war and sectarian violence. Watch out, it sounds like an attack on Iran is part of the Pentagon's plan.

Retired General Abizaid, in an AP interview, said the United States has done a poor job of fighting Islamic extremism. Quoting Abizaid, "I don't blame it on any people. I just blame it on a bureaucratic system that has been unresponsive thus far to the challenges of the 21st century. We need to change that as a matter of national priority."

Bureaucracy can be overcome by citizen initiatives. A national convention should be convened, bringing together our foremost experts on the Middle East, counter-terrorism, religious fundamentalism, colonial transgressions, economic development, and any other pertinent subject. The purpose of these deliberations would be to develop a plan to fight Islamic extremism through economic, educational, political, diplomatic, social, and other means. It's going to be up to the citizens.