Let's talk about that Qatar training announcement

[Zaphod58]

Earlier today the Pentagon announced that Qatar would begin training in the US at Mountain Home AFB in Idaho. Naturally people immediately began losing their minds, so let's talk a little about what really IS going to happen. 

Claim- Qatar is building an Air Force base inside the United States.

Reality- Sort of. They will be bringing their F-15QAs to Mountain Home AFB, which will remain a US Air Force Base. They're going to build their own housing, most likely to include a Mosque, aircraft maintenance facilities as the F-15QA is one of the most advanced F-15s flying and has a lot of equipment US aircraft don't currently have, including the F-15EX. 

Claim- This is unprecedented. No other country has a base inside the US. 

Reality- No, it really isn't. Until 2019 the Luftwaffe had their own facilities on Holloman AFB for training Tornado crews. They still have a logistics facility at Dulles Airport that coordinates logistics for the German military, procures licenses for transport and purchase, and other activities. At one point that facility was considered German territory, where crews could land, walk around the aircraft and hangars for loading, and didn't have to go through Customs.

Claim- No foreign military should have a base on US soil.

Reality- Many foreign military forces have a presence in the US, and the US had hundreds of bases around the world on foreign territory. Everything from automated relay stations to full up bases with several hundred members of the US military stationed there. Training and working with foreign forces is good practice, and helps interoperability when it comes to times of crisis, and makes for closer ties with those military forces in general.

Qatar is the latest in a long line of both temporary and permanent detachments of foreign troops in the US. Arizona alone has the Netherlands, Norwegian, Danish, Denmark, Singapore, Taiwanese, Slovakian, Italian forces based there. Slovakia is there learning their new F-16s before they'll eventually return home, while the rest are permanent detachments, although Singapore is going to move to Arkansas. They'll join Poland with F-35s, and potentially Finland, Sweden, Switzerland, Germany and Canada. Idaho currently has another detachment from Singapore flying their F-15SG, another advanced F-15E variant, although not quite as advanced as the QA that is coming, or the EX the US is taking delivery of.

[Maxmars]

I haven't been watching the press on this.... assuming it's full of alarm and grief.

Our relationships with other military forces in this regard has not changed.  I remember watching Iranian Air Force pilot trainees walking around in Texas... right before our "hostage" crisis there...

I hope no one places a bias lens all over this and sells it as some kind of doomsday signal.

[cherokeetroy]

[Zaphod58]

[Image: https://i.imgur.com/EnazAm0.jpeg]

Qatar has also been a steadfast ally to us in the ME. One of the very few that hasn't given us all kinds of problems over the years. Al-Udeid is one of our biggest bases in the region, and they spent over a billion dollars expanding it for our use. Qatar is about the only country in the region that has almost never put restrictions on our use of their airspace, and this is simply returning the favor for them since they're so limited in training airspace.

[Zaphod58]

I haven't been watching the press on this.... assuming it's full of alarm and grief.

Our relationships with other military forces in this regard has not changed.  I remember watching Iranian Air Force pilot trainees walking around in Texas... right before our "hostage" crisis there...

I hope no one places a bias lens all over this and sells it as some kind of doomsday signal.

Oh yes. Even people that normally would know better are screaming in alarm.

[Maxmars]

It's a shame really.

Those airmen are going to face something that is entirely a social construct plopped into the local heads... all produced and crafted to one activist perspective or other while pretending to be "news."

I now must make an effort not to 'start' that OT again....

[cherokeetroy]

Qatar has also been a steadfast ally to us in the ME. One of the very few that hasn't given us all kinds of problems over the years. Al-Udeid is one of our biggest bases in the region, and they spent over a billion dollars expanding it for our use. Qatar is about the only country in the region that has almost never put restrictions on our use of their airspace, and this is simply returning the favor for them since they're so limited in training airspace.

Of course. It's pure diplomacy and has nothing to do with Trump's private business interests or his personal relationship with the royal family

[Zaphod58]

Of course. It's pure diplomacy and has nothing to do with Trump's private business interests or his personal relationship with the royal family

What businesses is he running in Idaho that will be involved in training Qatar military pilots? An yes, let's completely ignore all the steps involved, including the EIS that was completed in 2022, or the negotiations that were going on prior to that to get to the point of doing the EIS. Which means that approval came under, which administration?  Sure wasn't Trump in 2022. These talks and decisions aren't made overnight. You don't call up and say "Hey we want a training site in your country" and get a "Sure, come on over". 

I know it's the current rage to find fault with everything Trump, but Jesus, do some research into what goes into a decision like this.

[cherokeetroy]

What businesses is he running in Idaho that will be involved in training Qatar military pilots? An yes, let's completely ignore all the steps involved, including the EIS that was completed in 2022, or the negotiations that were going on prior to that to get to the point of doing the EIS. Which means that approval came under, which administration?  Sure wasn't Trump in 2022. These talks and decisions aren't made overnight. You don't call up and say "Hey we want a training site in your country" and get a "Sure, come on over". 

I know it's the current rage to find fault with everything Trump, but Jesus, do some research into what goes into a decision like this.

From Perplexity: 

Donald Trump’s business dealings involving Qatar span both personal Trump Organization projects and political agreements linked to his presidency. These dealings have faced public scrutiny due to potential conflicts of interest involving foreign government entities and sizable investment flows. 

Major Trump-Qatar Business Engagements: 

Trump International Golf Club: Qatar Announced in 2025, this $5.5 billion project includes an 18-hole golf course and luxury beachfront villas in partnership with Qatari Diar, the Qatari government’s real estate arm, and Dar Global (a Saudi-linked developer). 

Eric Trump signed the agreement alongside senior Qatari officials and promoted the expansion of the Trump brand into Qata. 

Qatari Diar Partnership: Qatari Diar, established by Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, is Trump Organization’s direct business partner on the luxury resort project, adding governmental ties to the deal. 

Qatar Government Jet "Gift"In 2025, Qatar reportedly gifted the U.S. a luxury Boeing 747 jet, which Trump has stated will serve as the temporary Air Force One, with plans to display it in his presidential library after his term.This publicized gesture highlights notable personal goodwill and raised bipartisan congressional oversight concerns due to potential influence on national policy. 

$1.2 Trillion Economic Commitment:

Trump signed a landmark agreement with Qatar for a $1.2 trillion economic exchange during a presidential trip, involving significant U.S.-Qatar business, aerospace, and manufacturing deals—including the sale of Boeing aircraft and GE engines to Qatar Airways. 

Key Political Engagements:

Trump’s diplomacy and state-level negotiations in Qatar have led to economic agreements valued in the hundreds of billions, tying his personal and political interests closely with Qatari leaders and government-backed firms. 

The Trump Organization’s structure allows ongoing foreign deal-making while Trump is president, further intertwining political and private business interests in the Gulf region. 

Trump’s sons, Eric and Donald Jr., manage most Middle East projects and have appeared in promotional events with Qatari Diar executives. These deals have prompted criticism from U.S. ethics watchdogs and congressional oversight committees for lack of divestment and direct involvement with foreign government entities.

 This list covers Trump’s most prominent Qatar-linked business and political interactions—many of which blend personal financial interests with official U.S. policymaking in the region.

[Zaphod58]

From Perplexity: 

Donald Trump’s business dealings involving Qatar span both personal Trump Organization projects and political agreements linked to his presidency. These dealings have faced public scrutiny due to potential conflicts of interest involving foreign government entities and sizable investment flows. 

Major Trump-Qatar Business Engagements: 

Trump International Golf Club: Qatar Announced in 2025, this $5.5 billion project includes an 18-hole golf course and luxury beachfront villas in partnership with Qatari Diar, the Qatari government’s real estate arm, and Dar Global (a Saudi-linked developer). 

Eric Trump signed the agreement alongside senior Qatari officials and promoted the expansion of the Trump brand into Qata. 

Qatari Diar Partnership: Qatari Diar, established by Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, is Trump Organization’s direct business partner on the luxury resort project, adding governmental ties to the deal. 

Qatar Government Jet "Gift"In 2025, Qatar reportedly gifted the U.S. a luxury Boeing 747 jet, which Trump has stated will serve as the temporary Air Force One, with plans to display it in his presidential library after his term.This publicized gesture highlights notable personal goodwill and raised bipartisan congressional oversight concerns due to potential influence on national policy. 

$1.2 Trillion Economic Commitment:

Trump signed a landmark agreement with Qatar for a $1.2 trillion economic exchange during a presidential trip, involving significant U.S.-Qatar business, aerospace, and manufacturing deals—including the sale of Boeing aircraft and GE engines to Qatar Airways. 

Key Political Engagements:

Trump’s diplomacy and state-level negotiations in Qatar have led to economic agreements valued in the hundreds of billions, tying his personal and political interests closely with Qatari leaders and government-backed firms. 

The Trump Organization’s structure allows ongoing foreign deal-making while Trump is president, further intertwining political and private business interests in the Gulf region. 

Trump’s sons, Eric and Donald Jr., manage most Middle East projects and have appeared in promotional events with Qatari Diar executives. These deals have prompted criticism from U.S. ethics watchdogs and congressional oversight committees for lack of divestment and direct involvement with foreign government entities.

 This list covers Trump’s most prominent Qatar-linked business and political interactions—many of which blend personal financial interests with official U.S. policymaking in the region.

I said which of his businesses are involved in building military facilities and pilot training. Not one of those listed by the AI have anything to do with the topic at hand. 

i notice that you ignored everything else, including the fact that the training location was agreed to by the Biden administration, and all the work that was done before Trump was back in office. You just keep right on screaming about the corruption involved and keep ignoring inconvenient facts.