The Disrespected Undercard
A Qatari F-15 Airbase in Idaho? Not Really.
Somewhere in the state of Idaho the US Air Force is making room for a training and housing program for Qatari military officers to learn, operate, and maintain a fleet of jets at the Mountain Home Air Force Base.
People are acting shocked, as if nothing of this sort has ever been done before in America. Don't get me wrong. I'm not a war monger. And I'm also not fond of the business of making and selling high tech weapons systems such as the F-16 jet fighter. Depending on systems capabilities the cost of one F-16 starts around $15 million per plane. This is nothing new and these vast sums could have been devoted to something much more worthwhile such as feeding starving children.
America has an important Air Base located in Qatar. The Qatari government is an American ally and customer. I have nothing against Arabs, Qataris, or other American allies. I also recognize that the rulers of Qatar have their own reasons for allying with the USA. I don't want to say it's none of my business. On the other hand, if the Lockheed Martin company wants to sell fighter jets to someone should I support or oppose their sale? There are plenty of other fighter jet manufacturers in the world they could buy from.
I'm an advocate for peace and being armed to the teeth is not my idea of peaceful co-existence. Would it be better if the rulers of Qatar went to the Chinese to buy their advanced weapon systems? What about India? Pakistan? Russia? France? England? Companies in all these countries are active in the international arms trade.
To His Highness Emir Sheik Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani:
I am writing to you today as a hopeful American citizen. Thank you for your alliance and friendship with the United States. It is my sincere hope that our peoples remain close allies and friends in perpetuity and that our mutual relationship leads to lasting peace and prosperity for all. May The Eternal Creator Wish It.