Will Shirer, an American geopolitical analyst and historian:

Will Shirer, an American geopolitical analyst and historian: A significant number of American refueling aircraft have exited the operational range of CENTCOM; some have returned to the U.S., and others have been transferred to NATO member countries in Europe. Almost none of them remain at American bases near the Persian Gulf. This is because nearly all of these bases have been severely damaged and no longer have effective and reliable air defense.