Permanent Bases in Iraq?

Sometimes it's hard to know what to make of various stories in the media. The House apparently voted down permanent bases in Iraq but behind the scenes it appears permanent bases are being put back on the table. Here's an interesting story by way of Jeanne of Body and Soul about permanent bases in Iraq (read it, otherwise I have to copy the whole thing for it to make full sense):

Via Liberal Oasis, here's a pretty important story I missed. Last week, the House approved an amendment to the emergency war spending bill which prohibits funds for permanent bases in Iraq.

(snip)

The press has virtually ignored this story. But it's the type of thing the Democrats could really use to point out how far from mainstream opinion Republicans really are. America wants us out. The Bushies are digging in.

The Mahablog points out another story in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer on the building of permanent bases:

While most Americans are focused on how soon U.S. troops can get out of Iraq, the Army and Air Force are pouring an awful lot of concrete there.

An Associated Press investigative report suggests that there is a certain air of permanence to the military construction we're doing in Iraq. Massive development at several U.S. outposts raises the prospect that the administration may be contemplating the U.S. installations designed to outlast insurgency and the creation of a stable Iraqi government.

Bush's spring public relations offensive against his sinking numbers in the polls is in full swing. Will Congress please tell us what's going on since Bush doesn't feel obligated to do so? And will Congress please exert its full authority as an equal branch of government? Nobody has asked the question but I suspect an overwhelming majority of Americans are unwilling to give Bush permanent carte blanche in our domestic and foreign affairs. It's past time for Congress to act.