Idaho's Unexpected Twist: When Politics Meets Foreign Policy

Idaho, known for its deep red politics, recently found itself in the middle of an unexpected foreign policy move. The Trump administration decided to set up a Qatari Air Force training section at Mountain Home Air Force Base. This caught Idaho's Republican congressional delegation off guard. They had no idea this was happening. The deal involved selling F-15QA fighter jets to Qatar. This wasn't new; the plans had been in the works for years. But the announcement came as a surprise to Idaho's senators and representatives. They had no advance notice. This put them in a tough spot. They had to deal with criticism from both sides. The left pointed out Trump's connections to Qatar, like accepting a luxury jet and a big golf course contract. The right was worried about Qatar's ties to terrorist groups. The Idaho delegation responded by asking the Trump administration some questions. They wanted to know how this deal would protect national security. They also wanted to know how the Qataris at the base would be vetted. And who would pay for all this? These questions were similar to ones already asked by state Senator Christy Zito and her group. It seemed like a way to deflect criticism. But why didn't they push back harder? Senator Jim Risch, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has been quiet on this. He's known for supporting Ukraine and NATO, but not lately. Senator Mike Crapo, who chairs the Senate Finance Committee, passed a big tax bill that hurt many Idahoans. Congressman Mike Simpson tried to put Melania Trump's name on the Kennedy Center. Congressman Russ Fulcher supported Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election. Meanwhile, in Wilder, Idaho, a big law enforcement operation turned messy. The FBI was after a few people running an illegal gambling operation. But ICE showed up and detained hundreds, including U. S. citizens. They zip-tied kids and fired rubber bullets. The FBI and local law enforcement quickly distanced themselves from ICE's actions. Governor Brad Little didn't say much about this either. He released a statement but didn't clarify it. Record numbers of Idahoans protested Trump's behavior and their representatives' silence. But their elected leaders stayed quiet. Even when Trump posted a weird AI video, they didn't speak up. It seems they fear Trump more than their own constituents.