15 votes

Qatar to build air force facility on US base in Idaho

8 comments

  1. [7]
    l_one
    (edited )
    Link
    Edit 2: upon reflection my initial comment with posting this story was not up to the standards I see here on Tildes and not respectful of the level of thought and quality I both enjoy here and...

    Edit 2: upon reflection my initial comment with posting this story was not up to the standards I see here on Tildes and not respectful of the level of thought and quality I both enjoy here and wish to continue to be a part of. The story itself may have been worth sharing, my initial comment, and lack of depth of research before posting it, was not. End edit.

    Just... what? I just saw this on CNN and had to go check and see it on half a dozen different media sites to confirm. trump signed a deal to allow the creation of a military airbase, of a foreign nation, on US soil. With Qatari owned F-15s and Qatari figher pilots.

    WTF is going on in this timeline?

    The Hill: https://thehill.com/policy/defense/5550230-trump-allies-oppose-qatar-base/

    BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c75q2y92090o

    Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-admin-sparks-maga-fury-with-qatari-air-force-base-in-us-betrayed-10862415

    CNN YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rybrDZjirrk

    Edit: was ~news correct for this or should it have been in ~society?

    8 votes
    1. [6]
      stu2b50
      Link Parent
      I don’t think it’s all that weird. It’s not a base, it’s just a facility to host Qatari military forces during joint military exercises. Like, there’s already a Singaporean facility in the same...

      I don’t think it’s all that weird. It’s not a base, it’s just a facility to host Qatari military forces during joint military exercises.

      Like, there’s already a Singaporean facility in the same Air Force base

      The 366th Fighter Wing has the firepower of more than 50 F-15E Strike Eagle. Additionally Mountain Home AFB hosts the Republic of Singapore Air Force F-15SG aircraft. The wing population consists of approximately 5,100 military and civilian members in addition to 3,500 family members.

      https://www.mountainhome.af.mil/About-MHAFB/

      I suppose Singaporeans are less controversial, but either way it’s not a new development to have facilities for foreign allied militaries.

      12 votes
      1. [4]
        l_one
        Link Parent
        The Axios article made note of the difference between other training arrangements: "However, the deal Hegseth announced on Friday is unusual in that Qatar will be constructing a new air force...

        The Axios article made note of the difference between other training arrangements:

        "However, the deal Hegseth announced on Friday is unusual in that Qatar will be constructing a new air force facility from the ground up."

        Edit: I'm reading through your linked page now and doing further research. If this was just me having a lack of understanding of what is and is not normal in this regard, my apologies.

        6 votes
        1. [3]
          stu2b50
          Link Parent
          Sure, I guess? I don’t think there’s all that much to be concerned with Qataris being allowed to build the facility as opposed to taking over an existing facility on the airbase. I suppose it’s...

          Sure, I guess? I don’t think there’s all that much to be concerned with Qataris being allowed to build the facility as opposed to taking over an existing facility on the airbase. I suppose it’s some minor favoritism for their side. Maybe the Singaporeans will be mad. Idk.

          1 vote
          1. [2]
            AugustusFerdinand
            Link Parent
            It's not entirely unusual. Singapore trains there, Germany trains at another base, any number of F35 buyers train at another. And this has been in the works with Qatar since 2017. I don't like the...

            It's not entirely unusual. Singapore trains there, Germany trains at another base, any number of F35 buyers train at another.
            And this has been in the works with Qatar since 2017.

            I don't like the fat orange fascist any more than anyone else here, but I expect more from Tildoes than just eating whatever the outage machine that is mainstream media feeds them.

            5 votes
            1. l_one
              Link Parent
              Upon reflection, I agree and apologize. While this may have been a news story worth sharing, my initial post and characterization - and insufficient research before posting - was not. I was...

              I don't like the fat orange fascist any more than anyone else here, but I expect more from Tildoes than just eating whatever the outage machine that is mainstream media feeds them.

              Upon reflection, I agree and apologize. While this may have been a news story worth sharing, my initial post and characterization - and insufficient research before posting - was not. I was viewing this through the lens of corruption as a direct result of the blatant bribery the administration has accepted without the backstory of this process / agreement having been started in 2017.

              I will try to do better.

              3 votes
      2. teaearlgraycold
        Link Parent
        Presumably this means they get their own building there next to a Singaporean building?

        Presumably this means they get their own building there next to a Singaporean building?

        1 vote
  2. balooga
    Link
    I think it would be really nice if every country only kept military facilities on their own soil.

    I think it would be really nice if every country only kept military facilities on their own soil.

    3 votes