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.
