World Tribune.com


U.S. assumes operational control of air base in Qatar

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Friday, July 12, 2002

ABU DHABI Ñ The United States has launched full operations at Qatar's Al Udeid air base which is expected to be used in any U.S. offensive against Iraq.

Gulf defense sources said that currently scores of U.S. warplanes and 3,000 military personnel are deployed at the facility.

Currently, the sources said, the United States uses Al Udeid for air force missions in Afghanistan. But they said the base is being prepared for air operations in the Persian Gulf and particularly around Iraq.



The base remains incomplete and Qatar and the United States are working together to complete hangars and othe residential facilities, Middle East Newsline reported. At that point, the number of assets and personnel can be significantly increased.

Already, the sources said, the United States has transferred equipment from the Prince Sultan air base in Saudi Arabia to Al Udeid. They are said to include communications equipment, munitions and command and control facilities.

The sources said the main facility completed at Al Udeid is a 15,000-foot runway. This allows for the landing and take-off of virtually U.S. warplane, including the giant B-2 strategic bomber.

Operations at Al Udeid have been steadily increased since November 2000. The sources said In April, a U.S. civil engineering team completed an airfield ramp for Al Udeid.

Last month, the Wall Street Journal reported that Qatar has agreed to invest $400 million to complete Al Udeid. The newspaper said U.S. commanders want to deploy at least 50 aircraft at the base.

The Al Udeid air base is regarded as part of an effort by Qatar to form a strategic alliance with the United States. The sources said Qatar wants to woo the United States to agree to a permanent military presence in the emirate by constructing both air and ground forces facilities.

The U.S. Army uses two other facilities in Qatar. Camp As-Sayliyah, on the outskirts of Doha, contains a complex of warehouses where tanks and other armored vehicles, ammunition and tons of other equipment are stored to equip a brigade.

Camp Snoopy is regarded as a logistics facility and stores munitions and non-combat supplies such as food and medicine.

The sources said the United States has so far not made any commitments to Qatar regarding Washington's military presence in the Persian Gulf. But U.S. officials have termed Qatar as one of the most cooperative Gulf Cooperation Council states in the war against terrorism.

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