WASHINGTON — The United States plans to maintain its military
presence in Qatar in the forseeable future.
The Defense Department has approved a contract that ensures the
maintenance of U.S. troops and supplies in Qatar for at least the next five
years. The Gulf Cooperation Council emirate contains the air operations
center and other facilities of U.S. Central Command.
On June 11, the Pentagon awarded a $50.3 million contract to ITT Federal
Services International Corp. for operations and security services at Qatar's
Camp As Sayliyah. The contract was meant to maintain the U.S. Army in Qatar
until December 2012.
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The U.S. military maintains a significant presence at As Sayliyah and Al
Udeid in Qatar. As Sayliyah contains U.S. Army troops and equipment, while
Al Udeid houses the U.S. Air Force.
In a June 20 statement, the Pentagon said ITT bested five bidders. The
statement said the U.S. Army Contracting Command in Qatar would oversee the
contract.
Officials said the U.S. military has used Qatar for the rest and
recreation of troops based in Afghanistan and Iraq. They said Qatar has
approved the presence of U.S. troops for at least the next five years.
