The defense secretary traveled to the region to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to preserve security and stability in the Arabian Gulf. The sophistication of the terrorist bombings at Khobar Towers in Dhahran in June and at Riyadh in November indicates the attacks may be tied to international terrorist groups. The base has everything needed to maintain modern air operations and is in excellent condition, Perry said. What's lacking, however, are living accommodations. In the desert nearby, hardpacked pads remain where U.S. tents stood during Desert Storm.
Saudi officials plan extensive improvements to the infrastructure of the base.
An important feature of the base, Perry said, is the fact it's out in the middle of the desert. The security perimeter can be set a quarter mile outside the base, he emphasized. We can put this huge perimeter around it so that any imaginable bomb that anybody brings up to it is not going to cause damage inside. More than 15,000 U.S. troops are stationed in the Arabian Gulf region, Perry said. A fleet of about 20 warships are in the Arabian Gulf.