Qatar Drag Racing
Everyone watch the mechanical power unleash on the race track, which was nestled within the outskirts Doha. Shiekh Khalid, son of the Qatar emir, set a new standard in speed while driving a full-body door car on a 660-foot drag strip January 22, 2010. During that same race, Qatar hosted the first ever side-by-side finish in under 3.7 seconds. Continue reading
Shajilal Pallikuniyil of Kerala, India, is known as “Jalal” in a loft located above a gold shop in Doha, Qatar. Below the thick concrete floor is a glitzy storefront stocked with over $7 million in gold jewelry, peddled by a half dozen Arab salesmen. Customers never know Jalal is upstairs in a secluded area, but requests for handcrafted jewelry depend on it.
The most productive and top performing goldsmiths working in the Middle East are from Kerala, said Mohammad Al Salahi, deputy general manager of Al Salahi Jewelry. The Yemeni chemist lives near his family-owned gold factory in Saudi Arabia, where out of more than 300 goldsmiths, nearly everyone is from India. Salahi frequently travels to Doha to check on his five Qatar showrooms, which exclusively employ Kerala men to complete custom gold requests. Continue reading
Saad Ismail Al Jassim, 73, is widely recognized as “the old pearl diver” in Qatar. His store attracts a steady stream of intrigued patrons at Souq Waqif, a newly renovated shopping establishment that models ancient Islamic architecture. Surrounding structures resemble a fort constructed of sharp geometric shapes covered in creamy gypsum. Mazes of merchants stockpile handicrafts, fabrics, perfumes, spices and fresh foods. Known for its art and culture, the mall complex is appropriately anchored by Jassim’s shop.
The aging merchant reveals remnants from a lifetime spent conquering the salty waters of the Arabian Gulf. An old stone and rope rest near his doorway. Many years ago, they helped submerge him into the depths of the sea. A crudely created nose clip always sits in his pocket, where its significance in early diving adventures is ready to share. A note of appreciation for his pearl diving stories is hung from a far wall, signed by students at the American School of Doha, Qatar. Continue reading
Department of Defense officials are consistently undecided about embracing the latest Web technology. Proponents mention its strengths in supporting public affairs, recruiting efforts and family readiness, while protesters cite issues with operations and network security, as well as bandwidth drain. It’s the position of this author that military Web-first publishing leads to greater benefits than risks. This report combines public opinion research, open-source government information, Internet use surveys, newspaper circulation statistics and experience in Army external information programs. This report does not offer official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. government. Continue reading
DOHA, Qatar — “This invitation represented a huge ‘thank you’ to our service members,” said Larry Oberto, Oberto Sausage Company sports marketing technical director, prior to the final race at the Oryx Cup Union Internationale Motonautique World Championship in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 21.
Oryx Cup
Qatar Marine Sports Federation brought the 2009 ABRA unlimited hydroplane season finals to the eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula. Immediately after officials announced the newest racing venue, Oberto searched for U.S. military bases in Qatar. His team hoped to host service members at the inaugural boat race in the warm, Gulf waters. Continue reading
Doha Tribeca
“I’m beside myself right now — I love it that I came here,” said U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Priscilla Sanchez, from Paterson, N.J. “I’ve been to the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City. It’s a big event and they’re not always easy to get in to.” Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff founded the Tribeca Film Festival in 2001 to spur economic and cultural revitalization of lower Manhattan after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center. Part of the festival’s mission statement focuses on reaching out to the international film community. On behalf of the founders, Rosenthal and Hatkoff greeted the Qatar audience to share their appreciation for the newfound partnership.
“Qatar picked the perfect setting,” said Sanchez. “The lighting around the museum is so beautiful.” The Qatar Museum of Islamic Art is a structural masterpiece designed by acclaimed architect I. M. Pei. Situated along the Gulf waters, the museum’s massive and elegant geometric shapes glistened with bright blue lights during the twilight grand opening of the Doha Tribeca Film Festival.
Movie makers and celebrities from around the world walked down a digital red carpet as the evening events began. The Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra performed 100 years of cinema classics from the museum’s spacious waterfront property, as thousands of beach chairs filled with festival supporters. Qatari actors and actresses performed short theatrical episodes based on Arabic traditions.
After video presentations explaining the inception of the Doha Tribeca Film Festival and remarks by officials, a cinematic screen, 24 meters wide and 10 meters tall, advanced for an open-air screening of “Amelia,” by director Mira Nair. The movie illustrates the life of aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart, staring Hilary Swank and Richard Gere. Nair introduced her movie and told the audience: “In cinema, we annihilate distances in culture.”
“Qatar captured the same spirit and atmosphere as New York City,” said Sanchez, while watching fireworks launch from behind the museum after the film ended. “Everyone was watching an American movie, about our history, and they were really into it. Just like the Tribeca Film Festival back home, where we watch foreign movies with great interest.”
“That was amazing — the museum, the palm trees, the lighting,” said Private David Varnum, from Bath, Maine, who was enjoying a brief pass from Iraq by participating in the U.S. Central Command rest and recuperation pass program at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar. “Everyone was laid back and having a good time. It was history in the making and it’s cool to be a part of that.”
Jagadish Hajam, an auto body repairman and painter from Nepal, applies a coat of Tan 686A on the wheels of a Stryker armored combat vehicle Oct. 3, 2009, inside a booth at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar. The infantry carrier vehicle was the first vehicle to adopt the new desert tan color in Southwest Asia, in preparation for a planned phase out of the Stryker’s current deep green color.
The vehicle that had been restored after deterioration during enemy engagement in Iraq. Produced by General Dynamics Land Systems, the eight-wheeled armored combat vehicles have been painted a foliage green color since their combat debut in 2003, supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. Talks about changing the color had been ongoing since 2004. Tan 686A is a paint meant for desert camouflage. It’s the same solid color covering most military equipment throughout Southwest Asia, where encountering dust storms and sand dunes are common. On Strykers, dust collects on the the hull’s abrasive texture and helps lighten its color. The Army later rescinded on the idea of transitioning the vehicle to desert tan. Continue reading
CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar — “You’re here to see what this Stryker facility does each day for the war fighter,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Peter Butts, 1st Battalion, 401st Army Field Support Brigade commander, while addressing about 20 of his soldiers and civilians Sept. 21, inside the Stryker battle damage repair facility at Camp As Sayliyah.
“The teamwork going on within this organization is incredible,” said Butts, referring to the surrounding General Dynamics Land Systems’ workforce.
For more than six years, Stryker armored combat vehicles have protected U.S. Central Command forces from enemy engagement. Strykers offer troops a mobile, versatile, heavily-equipped and adaptive personnel carrier. The vehicles are capable of carrying occupants through paved streets or rough off-road terrain. Most variants travel with more than 20 tons of armor, mechanical parts, weaponry systems and life-saving equipment. Continue reading
After writing several stories about the Stryker battle damage repair facility in Qatar, I drove one. A Stryker is a light-armored troop carrier that’s packaged in several variants. The type I drove was used for medical evacuations in Iraq. General Dynamics mechanics and welders in Qatar had recently repaired it.
I crawled over the cage-like slat armor, stepped onto the abrasive hull, and then dropped inside the driver’s hatch. The interior looked similar to a regular vehicle: a typical steering wheel, gas and brake pedals, and an automatic transmission lever. The big difference was on my left, a large grid of switches and buttons. Fortunately, I didn’t have to figure out that panel, aside from the emergency brake control. Continue reading
DOHA, Qatar — The W Doha hotel “Great Room” was illuminated by splashes of blue lighting along the exterior walls, creating a cool outdoor evening ambience. Comfortable booth seating areas were decorated with traditional Arabic lanterns. Waiters routinely offered fresh teas and shisha pipes. Nine different food corners supply various French, Italian, Japanese, Iranian and Arabic delicacies. A Lebanese band provides live entertainment by singing classic Arabic songs.
U.S. troops experienced an evening submerged in Arabic music, singing and dancing during a Ramadan banquet at the W Doha hotel, Qatar, Aug. 25. Fifteen service members attended the event, seven are enjoying a four-day respite from military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, by participating in the U.S. Central Command rest and recuperation pass program at Camp As Sayliyah. Continue reading
Dustin Senger 