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Kyrgyzstan's government said Friday that financial concerns and the killing of a citizen are among the reasons the country will close a U.S. base that has been a key operations point for U.S. efforts in Afghanistan.
The decision came as the United States makes plans to send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan to halt a resurgence of the Taliban.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called the decision to close Manas Air Base "regrettable." Just a few weeks ago, during a visit to the region, Gen. David Petraeus -- who oversees U.S. operations in the Middle East and Central Asia -- talked about how important the base is.
But Kyrgyzstan President Kurmanbek Bakiyev announced Tuesday that "all due procedures" were being initiated to close the base. He made the announcement at a news conference in Moscow after reports of a multimillion-dollar aid package from Russia.
Can Hillary talk them out of it? Or pay more them than Russia did?
This really highlights how Bush should have known that money can only rent loyalty.
The Kyrgyzstan republic is still a human rights nightmare and one party dictatorship. Part of the red sultan group of ex-soviet republics that sit on one the world's largest untapped oil and natural gas reserves known in the world. There has been signs that President Kurmanbek Bakiyev may be embarking on a program similar to Putin, that would force the Kyrgyz to modernize by force if necessary.
What remains to be seen is as delusianne has mentioned, is how Hillary and the CIA plan to deal with this situation since it may also cause Uzbekistan and Tajikistan to reexamine the deals that allow U.S bases on their soil.
Many Americans may have no idea where these countries are located but they are part of the strategic American raj domination of the oil rich Caspian sea basin, one of the main reasons for Obama's continuing involvement in the Afghan nation.
Can Hillary talk them out of it? Or pay more them than Russia did?
I was thinking I'd just say, "Pelosi on this," but since we are really talking the most inept presidential administration in our history, instead I'll say, "Sure, let Nobama print more money. After all, what's another Trillion, give or take a hundred billion?"
Uh, and we can blame it all on Bush for at least another two decades, can't we?
I was thinking I'd just say, "Pelosi on this," but since we are really talking the most inept presidential administration in our history, instead I'll say, "Sure, let Nobama print more money. After all, what's another Trillion, give or take a hundred billion?"
Uh, and we can blame it all on Bush for at least another two decades, can't we?
Liberals are just so full of Pelosi.
Actually I was asking people's opinions of how this scheduled Afgh intensification could shape up now that we're short one base; Russia-backed resistance to us is now clearly demonstrated. Secretaries of State are often sent over to try to reason with troublesome leaders; if Hillary went this would be her first assignment.
Kyrgyzstan's government said Friday that financial concerns and the killing of a citizen are among the reasons the country will close a U.S. base that has been a key operations point for U.S. efforts in Afghanistan.
The decision came as the United States makes plans to send an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan to halt a resurgence of the Taliban.
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has called the decision to close Manas Air Base "regrettable." Just a few weeks ago, during a visit to the region, Gen. David Petraeus -- who oversees U.S. operations in the Middle East and Central Asia -- talked about how important the base is.
But Kyrgyzstan President Kurmanbek Bakiyev announced Tuesday that "all due procedures" were being initiated to close the base. He made the announcement at a news conference in Moscow after reports of a multimillion-dollar aid package from Russia.
Can Hillary talk them out of it? Or pay more them than Russia did?
Well it certainly isn't going to make our efforts in Afghanistan any easier. I mean we are already paying our enemies to allow our convoys to get through, so I'm sure this will only make a very difficult thing worse.
One almost gets a sense that the folks abroad sense a weakening US position in the Middle East and are turning to more regional support. It will be interesting to see where Uzbekistan will go now that Russia seems to be peddling its influence as well as the erosion of Georgian regional influence. Lets not forget Turkey who recently walked out on a conference accusing Israel of attempting a coup within its government.
If nothing else, it seems the tide has shifted.
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