Gratitude can only go so far. Actually, I’m surprised to learn this freebie even lasted this long.
The days when a U.S. Army truck could fill up for free at a gas station in this oil-rich state are coming to an end. Kuwait’s energy minister said Thursday that U.S. troops are going to have to start paying for fuel.
In a gift that must have saved the Pentagon a fortune, Kuwait has not charged the U.S. military for fuel since the invasion of Iraq in March 2003. Tens of thousands of American Humvees, trucks and armored vehicles have rolled through the country and across the desert border into Iraq during the past two years.
“But now after the Iraqi elections … we have to create a mechanism for payment,” the energy minister, Sheik Ahmed Fahd Al Ahmed Al Sabah, told reporters.
Kuwait and the United States have agreed in principle on the matter, but the prices and other aspects are still to be worked out, he said.
The minister did not say when the new system would start and he did not give other details.
No objections to this from me, really.
Comments
One response to “Kuwait to Charge U.S. Military for Fuel”
I appreciate what Kuwait did for us during that time…I can understand their need to eventually end the practice. I wonder about two things; did France give us free wine at one time? And was Kuwait a member of coalition of the coerced? The bribed? Or glad they’re around at all to help…which brings me back to wondering about France…lol