Arab diplo urges US: Move air base

Claims it boosts ‘terror funder’ Qatar

The United States should consider moving its air base out of Qatar, according to a senior United Arab Emirates official.

As the Persian Gulf crisis enters its second week, UAE Ambassador to the US Yousef al-Otaiba said Qatar’s neighbors would “fairly soon” give the White House a list of specific actions Qatar must take before punitive steps are lifted against the tiny Gulf nation, which is accused of aiding terrorists.

He said the list would likely include adding sanctions on bank accounts of individuals that Qatar’s neighbors have already sanctioned — and possibly on the banks themselves. “We’ve gotten fed up. We’ve had enough,” Otaiba said.

In their bid to isolate Qatar by cutting off diplomatic ties, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries have been emboldened by President Trump, who has forcefully echoed their accusations that Qatar funds terrorist groups and foments instability in the Mideast.

The ambassador said both his country and the US had tolerated “bad behavior” by Qatar for “a very long time.”

“If I want to be honest, I think the reason action hasn’t been taken against Qatar is because of the air base,” Otaiba said, referring to Al Udeid Air Base. “The air base is a very nice insurance policy against any additional pressure.”

Home to some 10,000 US troops, the base has emerged as a flashpoint in the dispute between Qatar and its neighbors.

The forward headquarters of the US military’s Central Command is a staging point for US air campaigns in Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria.

“Maybe someone in Congress should have a hearing and just say, you know, ‘Should we consider moving it?’ ” Otaiba said. “And maybe not moving the entire base. Maybe just distribute to various countries so you don’t have all your eggs in one basket.”