GeoStrategy direct w/e 11-Dec-13
A report by two leading analysts called on the administration of President Barack Obama to augment the U.S. military presence in the Middle East. Michael O'Hanlon and Bruce Riedel wrote a report that recommended U.S. military bases in Gulf Cooperation Council states.
"In recent years, the United States has increasingly preferred to base its combat aircraft in the Middle East on aircraft carriers in and near the Persian Gulf," the report, titled "Land Warriors: Why the United States Should Open More Bases in the Middle East," said. "But now it should change course, moving more of them on land, to bases in two or more of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries."
Ther report, published in the influential Foreign Affairs magazine, said U.S. bases in GCC states would save on defense spending. O'Hanlon and Riedel said the new bases would allow the United States to "modestly downsize its overall aircraft carrier fleet" as well as increase deterrence toward Iran.
The United States relies on aircraft carriers, which contain 72 fighter-jets each, for any conflict with Iran. The report said the reliance on aircraft carriers has increased as the Defense Department returned several squadrons of fighter-jets from such Middle East states as Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
"Although the United States occasionally rotates fighter jets through the small states of the GCC and maintains command-and-control and support facilities in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, its permanent onshore combat power in the region is very limited," the report, dated July 2013, said.
The report said maintaining an aircraft carrier was 10 times more expensive that any large land-based military facility. Two or three land bases in GCC states could host around 50 F-15 and F-16 aircraft each.
"Building the bases needn't be expensive for the United States; ideally, as has often been the case, the GCC governments would front the investment costs for underground fuel lines, hardened aircraft shelters, and so on," the report said. "Some existing bases may be usable for this approach, too."
The report said Washington could quickly reach agreements with some of the GCC states for military bases, which could be launched as early as 2014. The United States has already signed status of forces agreements with all six GCC countries. At that point, the U.S. Navy could reduce its aircraft carrier fleet from 11 to nine ships, with savings of up to $10 billion a year.
O'Hanlon and Riedel advised Washington not to seek additional military facilities in Bahrain or Saudi Arabia. A decade ago, the U.S. military presence became a prime target of Al Qaida.
"Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are the best candidates for additional airpower deployments, since the facilities there are already excellent, and expandable if the need arises," the report said. "Kuwait would be a possible third candidate. All three are home to bases that have been secured against terrorist attacks."
A report by two leading analysts called on the administration of President Barack Obama to augment the U.S. military presence in the Middle East. Michael O'Hanlon and Bruce Riedel wrote a report that recommended U.S. military bases in Gulf Cooperation Council states.
"In recent years, the United States has increasingly preferred to base its combat aircraft in the Middle East on aircraft carriers in and near the Persian Gulf," the report, titled "Land Warriors: Why the United States Should Open More Bases in the Middle East," said. "But now it should change course, moving more of them on land, to bases in two or more of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries."
Ther report, published in the influential Foreign Affairs magazine, said U.S. bases in GCC states would save on defense spending. O'Hanlon and Riedel said the new bases would allow the United States to "modestly downsize its overall aircraft carrier fleet" as well as increase deterrence toward Iran.
The United States relies on aircraft carriers, which contain 72 fighter-jets each, for any conflict with Iran. The report said the reliance on aircraft carriers has increased as the Defense Department returned several squadrons of fighter-jets from such Middle East states as Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
"Although the United States occasionally rotates fighter jets through the small states of the GCC and maintains command-and-control and support facilities in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, its permanent onshore combat power in the region is very limited," the report, dated July 2013, said.
The report said maintaining an aircraft carrier was 10 times more expensive that any large land-based military facility. Two or three land bases in GCC states could host around 50 F-15 and F-16 aircraft each.
"Building the bases needn't be expensive for the United States; ideally, as has often been the case, the GCC governments would front the investment costs for underground fuel lines, hardened aircraft shelters, and so on," the report said. "Some existing bases may be usable for this approach, too."
The report said Washington could quickly reach agreements with some of the GCC states for military bases, which could be launched as early as 2014. The United States has already signed status of forces agreements with all six GCC countries. At that point, the U.S. Navy could reduce its aircraft carrier fleet from 11 to nine ships, with savings of up to $10 billion a year.
O'Hanlon and Riedel advised Washington not to seek additional military facilities in Bahrain or Saudi Arabia. A decade ago, the U.S. military presence became a prime target of Al Qaida.
"Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are the best candidates for additional airpower deployments, since the facilities there are already excellent, and expandable if the need arises," the report said. "Kuwait would be a possible third candidate. All three are home to bases that have been secured against terrorist attacks."
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