The latest in a series of moves by President Trump that appeared to throw a wrench into State Department efforts to calm the Qatar blockade situation saw him telling the Saudi King today that the US could well just abandon their largest military base in the Middle East, the al-Udeid Airbase in Qatar.
Officials from the blockading states have previously suggested that the US ought to consider finding an alternative to the Qatar base, as State and Pentagon officials express concern the protracted blockade could start impacting US wars in the region, which are run out of the base.
This is a hugely important base for the US, and that’s a big part of why State Department officials have been so desperate to try to resolve the dispute. President Trump, however, has treated this base with relative ambivalence, and in his talk with King Salman today said he was confident other countries in the region would “gladly” build the US a replacement base if they abandoned Qatar.
Trump may be over-optimistic in that regard, particularly if after Qatar spent decades cultivating close ties with the US he just cuts them loose at the first sign of mild inconvenience. Hosting a US base is historically seen as an easy way to get US support, and if that’s no longer the case there may not be so many willing to host a new one.
This knee jerk reactionary foreign policy will only lead to more trouble.
“…will only lead to more trouble.”
…I think that donkey has already left the barn…no disrespect to donkeys intended.
“There is no character, howsoever good and fine, but it can be destroyed by ridicule, howsoever poor and witless. Observe the ass, for instance: his character is about perfect, he is the choicest spirit among all the humbler animals, yet see what ridicule has brought him to. Instead of feeling complimented when we are called an ass, we are left in doubt.”
– Pudd’nhead Wilson
I think one of the “advisors” around Donnie should inform him roughly how long it takes to build an airbase – not to mention negotiate a SOF agreement that would actually protect American personnel. Ain’t gonna happen overnight, ya know.
The Donald is “all in” with the Saudis. Allah help us.
“State and Pentagon officials express concern the protracted blockade could start impacting US wars in the region” Horror!!!! How will we survive?
Well, well. Is this just more Trump loose talk to soften the Qataris or is he serious?