Middle East

Qatar: America’s Secret Weapon In The Middle East?

If one were to pick an emblem of America’s global military might, the B-52 properly might top the list. The strategic bomber’s expansive 185-foot wingspan and 159-foot fuselage, make the “Stratofortress” a universally recognizable symbol of unrivaled aerial firepower.

This is especially the case if you are unfortunate enough to be the target of its devastating payload – which can be munitions ranging from unguided or guided bombs, to cruise missiles or nuclear weapons. Reportedly, up to 500 Russian mercenaries fighting in Syria found this out the hard way in February, illustrating that when America wants to send a message, it is often the B-52 that serves as its courier.

So then, what Middle Eastern country does the United States trust with hosting our regional fleet of B-52s, a crucial weapon in the fight against ISIS and other terrorist forces — Iraq? Saudi Arabia? United Arab Emirates? None of the above, actually. Instead, America turns to one of its biggest little allies in the world: Qatar.

In terms of land mass, Qatar is slightly smaller than Connecticut. Yet, despite its small size, the nation is home to America’s largest air base in the world outside the U.S. Al Udeid airbase, located just outside the capital city of Doha, is home to some 11,000 military personnel. The base also serves as the overseas headquarters for United States Central Command.