Per Fagereng interviews Gareth Porter,
historian, investigative journalist and policy analyst.  His latest book
is "Perils of Dominance: Imbalance of Power and the Road to War
in Vietnam."

He wrote the recent piece "Bush Pledges on Iraq Bases Pact
Were a Ruse," which states: "When Democratic Sen. James
Webb asked the State Department's David Satterfield, 'What is a permanent
base?' Satterfield tried to avoid answering the question. But Assistant Defense
Secretary Mary Beth Long was more responsive. She said, 'I have looked into
this. As far as the department is concerned, we don't have a worldwide or even
a department-wide definition of permanent bases.'    "Webb
then observed, 'It doesn't really mean anything,' to which Long replied, 'Yes,
senator, you're right. It doesn't.' She added that 'most lawyers... would say
that the word "permanent" probably refers more to the state of mind
contemplated by the use of the term.'"