“Cyprus was a British colony in 1956 when a revolt, led by the EOKA group, broke out: 40,000 troops were tied down until 1960, when the Zurich accord was signed by Britain, Greece, and Turkey. Under the accord, the British retained the right to station troops in a 98-square-mile area, and they have bases there to this day. More than 3,000 British troops are stationed on the island, which is considered a key forward base and the headquarters of the UK’s Mediterranean presence. This ‘Cypriot’ outcome — all neat and clean, no quagmire no problem — is all well and good — that is, if you’re John McCain, and you envision a hundred year occupation. It’s no surprise Gates endorses the Cyprus solution, either. It is, however, most emphatically not what Obama promised American voters: he specifically disdained the idea of establishing ‘permanent bases,’ and pledged to get us out completely in 16 months from his first day in office.” (12/12/08)