Kyrgyzstan may ask U.S. to close its air base - expert

[bemildred]

MOSCOW. Aug 5 (Interfax) - Kyrgyzstan may follow Uzbekistan's example and ask the United States to set a deadline for a withdrawal of its Air Force base, Valentin Bogatyryov, director of the Kyrgyz international institute of strategic studies under presidential auspices, told Interfax on Friday.

"It may happen this autumn after the parliamentary elections in Afghanistan," Bogatyryov said.

"As political life in Afghanistan is brought back to normal, it means that legitimate bodies of power, among them the president and parliament, should be established there. As we know, this process will be finalized this autumn, when parliamentary elections are due to be held in that country. Thus, I can say that after the elections it will be necessary to raise the issue of completing the mission of the anti- terrorist coalition's military bases," he said.

Interfax

[Wetzelbill]

1. thanks for the post

I'll have to read it later, but this stuff is fascinating. Central Asia is beginning to blanch when it comes to becoming another Middle East. The don't like the idea of becoming full on oil-region client regimes like some of the ME countries have. They don't call oil the Devil's Tears for nothing. They want little to do with the U.S. or the ramifications of Islamic fundies either.

[bemildred]

2. The Chinese point of view:

The impact of 'order for guest to leave'

After the Andijan event, Karimov visited Russia. The visit was paid under a "semi-closed" state, no political declaration was openly published by the two sides. According to Russia's newspaper, Kommersant, Russia proposed extending military assistance to Uzbekistan and helping it reform its armed forces. In the meantime, Russia also suggested that Uzbekistan return to the CIS Collective Security Treaty Organization. It can thus be said that Russia and Uzbekistan have repaired their years-long cold bilateral relationship, and become afresh "strategic partners". On July 28, Russia held back US proposal for discussing the Uzbek refugee problem at the UN Security Council, which was, without doubt, an important support for Uzbekistan under dual pressure from the West. On August 1, Chairman of the Russian Federal Council (Upper House of Parliament) Sergei Mironnov openly indicated that Uzbekistan's demand for US troop withdrawal is "an entirely logical" move.

As early as the mid-1990s, the United States regarded Central Asia as a "strategic channel" for building a new Eurasia pattern under its domination, thus beginning its infiltration into the region in the political, economic and security fields. US Central Asia policy includes the following goals: Supporting Central Asian countries' tendency of independence from Russia; simultaneously carrying out the solution of Central Asian regional conflicts and the exploitation of oil resources, so as to make the region become one of US strategic energy bases in the 21st century; and limiting Iran's influence in this region. To achieve these goals, Washington set forth a "new Central Asian strategy" by which it will begin with economy and gradually expand toward the political, military and educational fields.

Against this backdrop, it is not hard for people to imagine what impact would this paper of "order for guest to leave" exert on US Central Asia diplomacy. In order to keep the fruit Washington has reaped through many years of painstaking efforts, US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld paid urgent visits to Central Asia, and energetically tried to persuade Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to allow US troops to continue using their military bases in the two countries.

The common saying goes, "It is easier to call up an evil spirit than to allay it". Whether or not Uzbekistan's "order for the guest to leave" can be effective is still to be seen. Anyway, even if Uzbekistan, like its neighbors, would soften up its attitude in the future, US troops' image of "hanging on" in Central Asia has been "magnificently established", perhaps the United States had not thought of this passive situation when it agitated the "color revolution".

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200508/05/eng20050805_200562.html

[PATRICK]

3. Ham-handed arrogance

continiues to ruin US policy. It might be relatively easy to compete with the risky Russian neighbor with little to offer compared to the far off US. But not with the blundering incompetence of the overplayed Bush team.

Russia continues to take advantage of the madness fairly easily and considering the intent of the US bases in the first place it is not such a bad thing for the locals.

Total collapse of the economic empire designs or other more "benevolent" outreach intiatives of the US.

A sham imitiation of the British empire after all. A paper chickenhawk.

I am sure Rumsfeld was really an effective negotiator. LOL.

[enigma000]

5. The Andijan event?

Is the Andijan event the story refers to the massacre of protesters last May

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/05/16/world/main695341.shtml

The US does not need friends like this. Leave them to the Russians.

[bemildred]

7. We agree. nt

[Pystoff]

4. The Iran invasion

This is Russia and China making sure the US doesn't invade Iran. The former soviet countries and being talked to by China and Russia and they are simply telling them when does the US ever leave after they build a bae somewhere? That and both countries are making business agreements with Iran and trying to cut these other countries in on the action as well. China, Russia,Iran, and these other countries are going to control the oil and natural gas reserves in the near future after a mutual defense and business agreement and we are going to whine like little bitches about it....thats my prediction anyways.

[Ms. Clio]

11. That invasion might still occur--but your prediction sounds dead-on n/t

[Pystoff]

12. Our time to evolve economically has come and gone

We has a prime chance if the axis of evil comment hadn't happened to bury the hatchet with Iran...well that and pissing away billions on Iraq. That has come and gone and with hardliners taking over in Iran almost totally we have watched it pass by for good if you ask me. An invasion won't happen now without us facing possibly other countries militarily other than Iran and sanction on the US even for doing so. The EU has just accepted Iran's nuke agreements and said all is well today. This is a rebuke of the US around the world and we are on the doward side now with even our economic forces in eastern Asian markets where they could just buy them out eventually with ease or even take them over making the US the new post-communism Russia of the 21st century (lots of military might with no economic might) and with MAD in place we are going to have to just deal with it now.

BushCo and america need to read Sun Tzu badly.

[WhiteTara]

6. not to worry, I'm sure bully boy bolton

will bring them back into the fold! :sarcasm:

[daleo]

8. Don't these leaders take bribes anymore?

What is the world coming to...

[htuttle]

9. Not from us, apparently

I think it's two things:
A) We're getting outbid by China
B) We've screwed over so many other countries lately that our 'word' is no good anymore.

[bemildred]

10. Oh, I'm sure they still do.

The problem is that they have to decide who to be more afraid of, and we don't look so invincible anymore, and various other parties are much closer to hand. I've been wondering when steps would be taken to put an end to the "lilypads", and it seems the time may be at hand.

[VegasWolf]

13. Next, Grenada will be kicking us out. nt