Americans officially end era at PSAB

US Airforce Operations Centre ^ | Aug 27th, 2003 | Not Stated

[Gabrielle Reilly]

8/27/2003 - PRINCE SULTAN AIR BASE, Saudi Arabia (AFPN) -- U.S. officials transferred control of portions of Prince Sultan Air Base to Saudi officials at a ceremony Aug. 26. The ceremony also marked the inactivation of the 363rd Air Expeditionary Wing.

"We came here under difficult circumstances following the Khobar Towers bombing (at Dhahran Air Base),” said Col. James Moschgat, the wing’s commander. “The mission thrived and prospered here, and I believe our legacy will live on. We are leaving after seven years of friendship and cooperation. It's bittersweet, but it's time to go."

[Gabrielle Reilly]

Ping.

[balrog666]

What? No concrete down the toilets, no ripped up airstrips, no special surprises for the new clean up crews?

My, my, how things have changed.

[pabianice]

Once we have finished leaving Arabia, we will then start calling them for what they are: unwashed supporters of terrorism.

[Uncle Miltie]

(repeat from similar thread)

Yesterday, the FBI and the Saudis formed a joint task force to look into Terror Funding in Saudi Arabia. This is exactly 716 days after September 11th, 2001.

To recall Saudi Arabia's relationship with terror funding, let's look at a snippet from the WP:

----------------------(Snip)----------

Report: Terror Funds Flow Through Saudi ArabiaM/b>

Fundraising by Al Qaeda Sympathizers Continues Unabated in the Kingdom

By Douglas Farah
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, October 16, 2002; 7:43 PM

The Bush administration's efforts to cut off funds for international terrorism are destined to fail until it confronts Saudi Arabia, whose leaders have tolerated some of its wealthy citizens raising millions of dollars a year for al Qaeda, according to a new report from an influential foreign policy organization.

The report from the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations, scheduled for release today, contends that the administration must pressure the Saudis-as well as other governments – to crack down on terror financing, even at the risk of sparking a public backlash that could jeopardize the Saudi government.

----------------------(end snip)

So just to be clear, we are removing some planes from the country that funds Al-Quaeda, and only yesterday agreed to start looking into its funding of Al-Qaeda.

I suppose you could say things are starting to look up...?

[Gabrielle Reilly]

Won't get any arguement from me on that (please excuse the swimsuit).

http://www.gabriellereillyweekly.com/full/st072803.htm

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Thanks for the ping, Gabrielle. I forgot we were pulling out so soon. This DoD works fast.

[Gabrielle Reilly]

Your welcome.

The speed with which the DoD move is impressive.