Post by maruf on Oct 20, 2005 0:48:43 GMT -5
U.S. plans two permanent bases in the Gulf
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. military plans to maintain two permanent bases in the Gulf region.
U.S. officials said the bases would serve the military in operations throughout the Middle East and Central Asia. They said the bases would be maintained in countries deemed as stable Arab allies of the United States.
The U.S. Navy would maintain its presence in Bahrain, Middle East Newsline reported. Officials said the Fifth Fleet would continue to use Manama as a base for patrols throughout the Gulf.
The first facility allocated for permanent U.S. military deployment would be Al Dhafra air base in the United Arab Emirates. Officials said the U.S. Air Force would station F-16 multi-role fighters for regional operations as well as for the defense of Gulf Cooperation Council states.
"Al Dhafra would become the leading air training center for the F-16 for the GCC," an official said. "We will use the base to help improve GCC air forces and establish interoperability."
The second permanent U.S. military base would be located in Qatar. Officials said Al Udeid would continue to serve as the headquarters for U.S. Central Command Air Operations. The United States moved the air operations center from Saudi Arabia to Qatar in 2003.
Officials said Al Udeid would be the largest U.S. military base in the Gulf. They said Qatar would spend $400 million to house the air operations center in a project expected to be completed by July 2008.
"GCC states are our preferred bet for any permanent military presence," an official said. "They are serious about defense and understand the threat environment and how we can help."
The military has decided to maintain its most advanced air assets at Al Dhafra and Al Udeid. Officials said the U.S. Air Force has used the two GCC facilities for flights of the U-2 spy aircraft, Global Hawk strategic unmanned aerial vehicle and KC-135 refueling aircraft.
Kuwait also plans to maintain a long-term U.S. military presence. Officials said the presence would focus on logistics and pre-positioning of equipment.
Officials said Iraq would not contain a permanent U.S. military base until the nation's security situation significantly improves. They said the U.S. military would modernize Balad Air Base north of Baghdad in a $124 million program. Balad contains nearly 140 U.S. Army helicopters.
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SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. military plans to maintain two permanent bases in the Gulf region.
U.S. officials said the bases would serve the military in operations throughout the Middle East and Central Asia. They said the bases would be maintained in countries deemed as stable Arab allies of the United States.
The U.S. Navy would maintain its presence in Bahrain, Middle East Newsline reported. Officials said the Fifth Fleet would continue to use Manama as a base for patrols throughout the Gulf.
The first facility allocated for permanent U.S. military deployment would be Al Dhafra air base in the United Arab Emirates. Officials said the U.S. Air Force would station F-16 multi-role fighters for regional operations as well as for the defense of Gulf Cooperation Council states.
"Al Dhafra would become the leading air training center for the F-16 for the GCC," an official said. "We will use the base to help improve GCC air forces and establish interoperability."
The second permanent U.S. military base would be located in Qatar. Officials said Al Udeid would continue to serve as the headquarters for U.S. Central Command Air Operations. The United States moved the air operations center from Saudi Arabia to Qatar in 2003.
Officials said Al Udeid would be the largest U.S. military base in the Gulf. They said Qatar would spend $400 million to house the air operations center in a project expected to be completed by July 2008.
"GCC states are our preferred bet for any permanent military presence," an official said. "They are serious about defense and understand the threat environment and how we can help."
The military has decided to maintain its most advanced air assets at Al Dhafra and Al Udeid. Officials said the U.S. Air Force has used the two GCC facilities for flights of the U-2 spy aircraft, Global Hawk strategic unmanned aerial vehicle and KC-135 refueling aircraft.
Kuwait also plans to maintain a long-term U.S. military presence. Officials said the presence would focus on logistics and pre-positioning of equipment.
Officials said Iraq would not contain a permanent U.S. military base until the nation's security situation significantly improves. They said the U.S. military would modernize Balad Air Base north of Baghdad in a $124 million program. Balad contains nearly 140 U.S. Army helicopters.
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