Senator lauds Qatar’s support for US military

Qatar has provided unmatched support and care for members of the US military at bases located in the country over the years as part of the government’s dedication to the success of the mission, US Senator Lindsey Graham has said.
Graham, who is the chairman of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, thanked Qatar for its efforts and dedication while speaking at Doha Forum yesterday.
The US official said he was in the air force until he retired in 2015. He noted that he found the facilities in Qatar to be very convenient and well-cared for. Senator Graham said he is a frequent visitor to the region, having conducted 58 visits so far, in particular Iraq and Afghanistan.
Graham stressed that America’s interest in the Middle East and its security and stability is considered an integral part of the US security strategy, as the spread of terrorism in the region would eventually reach his country.
“Those people want to kill you first, then they will come to us,” he said, describing extremists  in some parts of the Middle East.
He also asked the Gulf countries to overcome their differences as it is time to look forward to address issues critical to their progress. He said the US cannot fix everybody’s problems and people have to take part in their own affairs and work out solutions that benefit them.
Meanwhile, he praised American co-operation with Turkey in Syria for being productive and yielding positive results on the ground. He described Turkey as a key player in Syria.
Graham talked about the various issues concerning American policies, whether inside the US or in various parts of the world with a focus on the region. He stressed the importance of education, empowering women and economic development to combat terrorism and radicalism other than military action.
Regarding the issue of Iran’s nuclear activities, he explained he is not against the Iranian people but could not trust the regime. It is “okay to have nuclear energy and use it for all, it is good and there is no problem in this”, but he stressed the view that the regime in Iran wants to acquire nuclear capabilities to make bombs that constitute a threat to the stability and security of the region.
He said a number of positive things were happening in the US, and expected the year 2020 to be more productive for American politics both at the internal and external levels. Referring to the impeachment inquiry involving Donald Trump, he said the US president would emerge from this stronger than before.