Vice President makes first stop to Air Force troops in Middle East Published March 17, 2002 AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar -- In his first stop to an Operation Enduring Freedom base in the Middle East, Vice President Dick Cheney visited the 366th Air Expeditonary Wing here March 17.As part of his 10-day, 12-nation tour of the region, the vice president addressed servicemembers on the vital role they’re playing in the war on terrorism and the great humanitarian assistance they’re providing to the Afghani people.“These are testing times for the U.S. and, in such a time, we are especially grateful for our military. You are here fighting for the defense of our country, and the forces of freedom will defeat the forces of terror,” Cheney said as he addressed the wing and other U.S. units co-located at the base during his one-hour visit. “During Operation Enduring Freedom, and most recently Operation Anaconda, U.S. forces have encountered dangers and will encounter many more, but in the last five months, the al-Qaida and Taliban have gotten a good dose of American airpower. Missions from this location have made all the difference in Enduring Freedom and Anoconda.”Cheney’s entourage, which included the White House’s top counter-terrorism official, and his wife, Lynne, received a rousing applause from the large contingent of troops upon entering the American compound known as Camp Andy, a temporary living and working area of nearly 200 heavy-duty, tan-colored tents first set up in September. The camp is named after Air Force Master Sgt. Evander Earl “Andy” Andrews, the first U.S. casualty of Enduring Freedom who died here Oct. 10 as a result of a heavy equipment accident.The vice president then took to a camoflauged lectern and spoke for 10 minutes, thanking them for their efforts in the war against terrorism and continuously emphasizing the long-term commitment of the United States and other allied nations.“Afghanistan is only the beginning of a long effort,” Cheney said. “The war will end when no terrorist group is allowed to threaten any nation. We will assist governments in fighting terrorist cells wherever they form. We will respond decisively and we will prevail.”Before leaving, Cheney had a few final encouraging words.“You’re here because you believe in America. I’m here to tell you, America believes in you.”With that, Cheney stepped down from the stage to shake hands and pose for pictures with many of the service members.At the flight line, Cheney spoke one-on-one with several wing members, including Lt. Col. “D Dawg,” commander of the 157th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron from the South Carolina Air National Guard. “D Dawg,” a decorated combat pilot as well as an American Airlines captain in his civilian life, gave the vice president a quick tour of his unit’s F-16 aircraft, which are flying daily missions over Afghanistan.The 157th EFS is a prime example of the Air Force’s total force commitment of active-duty, reserve and guard forces involved in the Enduring Freedom campaign. Notable is the fact that the guard unit, which has eight fighter pilots here who fly for major airlines, also plays a key role in U.S. homeland defense, flying combat air patrols over Atlanta just four hours after the terrorist attacks Sept. 11.Al-Udeid is a new Qatari air base, owned and operated by the Qatari armed forces. Qatar, along with other members of the international coalition, is cooperating closely with the United States in all aspects of the fight against terror – diplomatic, financial and military.The 366th AEW serves as one of the largest Air Force wings in the region with a number of support and operational functions. Aircraft supported by the wing include KC-10s, KC-135s, E-8Cs and F-16s.