re: Trump administration strikes deal with Qatar for air facility on air base in Idaho

Qatar is our ally in the ME.

They are buying our jets and parts and getting trained.

Would you rather them mothball all of the F-15's and Qatar go buy fighter jets somewhere else?

I really don't see the downside for us.

Gonna need some more 'splainin' on this -

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I really don't see the downside for us.

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Since we have been doing exactly this for decades not only pilots, maintenance, even language institute people you are correct.

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I don't understand the purpose of this.

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The US has been training foreign pilots at CONUS US Air Force bases for nearly 50 years.

Sometimes, the pilots are given training as a form of US Foreign Aid. Other times, the foreign governments pay the US humongous sums of money for the training. Almost every time, the training is included as part of a huge arms sale to the foreign country.

This is nothing new.

The US has had a number of countries permanently stationed on various CONUS USAF bases dating back to Operation Desert Storm.

Offering Qatar, et al. permanent space on CONUS air bases ensures US forces are given in-kind treatment abroad. It also provides for better interoperability and integration of forces in joint-maneuvers.

And simply put, Russia has been moving hard into the Middle East for the past 20 years. The US has to do more to slow their integration with Qatar, Saudia Arabia, UAE, et. al.

Providing Qatar pilots and maintenance personnel their own space on a US base is small compensation.

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Why are we training pilots from Muslim countries?? The shouldn’t be allowed in this country as they are foreign invaders.

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When you buy F-16 F-15 F-35 aircraft part of the deal is training, for pilots and maintenance bubbas.

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So go to Qatar and train them there. The don’t need a permanent presence on US soil.

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So you want thousands of Instructors spread across the world versus coming to a base near you.

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So you want thousands of Instructors spread across the world versus coming to a base near you.

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I don’t want America to turn into Dearborn MI. So many Muslim supporters today. Hope you wise up before we turn into Europe.

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So go to Qatar and train them there. The don’t need a permanent presence on US soil.

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Honestly, you have such a low understanding of basic logic skills, I don't know if there is enough time or bandwidth to get you understand how your statements truly are ignorant.

I will make the simplest list of 2 important reasons why it is beneficial for the US to have Qatar having a permanent presence on US Soil. Again, there is a tremendously long list of benefits, but here are 2:

1. When foreign governments purchase US fighter aircraft, there are components that are Plug-and-Play. Meaning, the buyer does not purchase the technology, they only get access to the usage. These "PnP" components need scheduled updates - which means Qatar (and other countries) regularly rotate their Aircraft to USAF bases for maintenance -- this is a way to control the security of the tech. Much of this work is performed and the subject components are better controlled on US Soil.

2. The better integrated into US process, culture, and environment as a whole, makes the US stronger abroad and creates a bond between Qatar pilots and maintenance personnel and the US counter parts. You may not agree, and your agreement is not essential, but it remains fact that people with closer bonds are more likely to support each other than oppose each other. You want that bond to be based on US principals -- if you have US personnel performing the maintenance and training in Qatar, that bond will naturally be based on Qatar principals.

Make no mistake, Qatar having a permanent spot at a CONUS base is far more beneficial to US forces than it is for Qatari forces.

You think these pilots are staying here? Good Lord.