U.S. force in Afghanistan plays down Uzbek eviction

[NVMojo]

yeah, right, tell me again that this ain't no big thang ...

KABUL – Uzbekistan's decision to evict the United States from a key military base will not affect operations in neighbouring Afghanistan, the U.S. military said on Monday.

The United States was told on Friday of Uzbekistan's decision to evict it from the Karshi-Khanabad air base, which has been used as a hub for combat and humanitarian missions to Afghanistan since just after the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.

'Our ability to execute combat operations ... in Afghanistan will not be hindered by this decision,' Colonel Jim Yonts, a spokesman for the U.S. military, told a regular briefing.

'We have locations and assets in place that we can flex ... to continue these operations.'

Uzbekistan has given no reason for evicting U.S. forces from the base, known as K-2, but relations have been strained by the authoritarian Uzbek government's bloody suppression of a rebellion in the eastern town of Andizhan in May, which drew U.S. criticism.

more...

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/iraq/20050801-0853-afghan-usa-uzbekistan.html

[MisterP]

1. looks like a certain dictator is trying to avoid becoming the next King

Carol II of Romania--or of being zorched from Mashhad on the other side of "Türkmenbashi's" kingdom.

[cliss]

2. Whenever the US gets evicted,

it's a big thing. The US is not as beloved around the world as we might believe. I recall last December, the tsunami in the Indian Ocean. The US pulled up a warship, right outside Indonesia. I know this made the Indonesian government sweat, because they kept referring to the US's "departure plans, very soon we expect".

Now as far as Uzbekistan: this was a very important base. I believe it was called K2. We used it for refueling, and as a staging spot for US troops on their way to Afghanistan.

There was a photo of RumsFailed making a "surprise visit" last week. He obviously failed in his attempt to keep the base. On the photo, he looked tense, desperate. He said, "We'll be fine. We're always thinking ahead".

This will definitely hurt the plans.

[peacebird]

3. RumsFailed and busHitler can't believe everyone isn't bowing before them..

"This will definitely hurt the plans."

I certainly hope so....