Saudi Arabia: Military

Mother JonesMarch/April 2003 Issue


Major US Military Bases1 Pre-Gulf War: Riyadh AB, Dhahran AB

Post-Gulf War: Prince Sultan AB, Eskan Village
Minor US Military Bases1 Pre-Gulf War: Jeddah AB, Jubail, Yanbu

Post-Gulf War: Dammam, Jeddah, Khamis Mushayt, King Khalid Military City, Tabuk, Taif
US Military Personnel Stationed as of 10/14/00 About 2,000 Air Force personnel, along with 64 combat planes, and 16 other planes; unspecified number of Army personnel manning Patriot missile batteries.
US Military Personnel Stationed as of 2/27/031 About 6,000 Air Force personnel, along with 75 combat planes; about 1,200 Army personnel manning 65 Patriot missile batteries.
Military Expenditures, 20012 $18.3 billion
Military Expenditures as Percentage of GDP2 13%
US Military Arms Sales (Delivered) 1990-20013 $35 billion

1 Source: www.GlobalSecurity.org
2 Source: CIA World Fact Book, www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/
3 Source: Federation of American Scientists, U.S. Arms Transfers Database, www.fas.org/asmp/profiles/sales_db.htm

IT'S TIME TO TALK ABOUT MEDIA BIAS

We believe that journalism needs to stand for something right now. That the press is the enemy of secrecy and corruption. That reporting without a sense of right and wrong only helps liars and propagandists succeed. And that we're in this fight for the long haul.

So we're hoping to raise $30,000 in new monthly donations this fall. Read our argument for journalism that is fair and accurate and stands for something—and join us with a tax-deductible monthly donation (or make a one-time gift) if you agree.