Al Udeid
The announcement that the US military's Central Command will move its air operations center out of Saudi Arabia to Qatar means probable reductions in US personnel in Saudi Arabia, one of the key demands made on the US by Osama bin Laden.
American military commanders, especially Air Force officials, have long favored moving the air command post to Al Udeid from Saudi Arabia. United States commanders have chafed at restrictions the Saudis have placed on the American-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Senior Bush administration officials sought to emphasize that shifting the location of the command center should not be interpreted as an indication that the United States was ending its military relationship with Saudi Arabia, which has involved efforts to train Saudi forces, as well as the use of Saudi air bases.
"We are not leaving Saudi Arabia," a senior administration official said today.
I say we are, quietly, after a decent interval.
Osama's wish list:
* US withdrawal from S.A. started
* death to Hussein close enuf
* Islamic state in Iraq
* Death to Assad
* ...
Washington Times
Mr. Wolfowitz said he expects to see a reduction of U.S. military forces in Saudi Arabia now that a southern no-fly zone over Iraq to protect the Shi'ites is no longer needed. The United States has maintained a large Air Force presence at Prince Sultan Air Base, including a state-of-the-art Combined Air Operations Center that directed the air war against Iraq.
"The Saudis have wanted us because we were needed, but there's obviously a huge scope for change" with the fall of Baghdad, he said.
"We maintain a close defense relationship with Saudi Arabia whether or not we have forces there," Mr. Wolfowitz said. "I don't think either of us want to give up the capability to come back if and when we are needed."
The Combined Operations Air Center [CAOC] is being moved to Qatar too. According to NPR yesterday (April 29th) only forces training Saudi personnel are to remain stationed in Saudi Arabia.
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The announcement that the US military's Central Command will move its air operations center out of Saudi Arabia to Qatar means probable reductions in US personnel in Saudi Arabia, one of the key demands made on the US by Osama bin Laden.
I say we are, quietly, after a decent interval.
- bruno 4-29-2003 7:08 am
Osama's wish list:
*
US withdrawal from S.A.started*
death to Husseinclose enuf* Islamic state in Iraq
* Death to Assad
* ...
- mark 4-30-2003 7:11 am
Washington Times
Mr. Wolfowitz said he expects to see a reduction of U.S. military forces in Saudi Arabia now that a southern no-fly zone over Iraq to protect the Shi'ites is no longer needed. The United States has maintained a large Air Force presence at Prince Sultan Air Base, including a state-of-the-art Combined Air Operations Center that directed the air war against Iraq.
"The Saudis have wanted us because we were needed, but there's obviously a huge scope for change" with the fall of Baghdad, he said.
"We maintain a close defense relationship with Saudi Arabia whether or not we have forces there," Mr. Wolfowitz said. "I don't think either of us want to give up the capability to come back if and when we are needed."
- mark 4-30-2003 10:12 am
The Combined Operations Air Center [CAOC] is being moved to Qatar too. According to NPR yesterday (April 29th) only forces training Saudi personnel are to remain stationed in Saudi Arabia.
- bruno 4-30-2003 3:32 pm