U.S. envoy: U.S. forces will leave their base in Uzbekistan

[Judi Lynn]

U.S. envoy: U.S. forces will leave their base in Uzbekistan

Associated Press
Sept. 27, 2005 10:30 AM

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan - A senior State Department official said Tuesday the president of Uzbekistan made it clear that American forces must leave their air base in the Central Asian country, and the U.S. intends to do so "without further discussion."

The demand came as relations soured following U.S. criticism of Uzbekistan's crackdown on anti-government protesters in May.

"The Uzbek government made it clear that we need to leave the base, and we intend to leave it without further discussion," Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Fried told reporters after meeting with President Islam Karimov. advertisement

In July, the Uzbek government invoked a provision of the basing agreement with the United States that requires all American forces to leave within six months.
(snip/...)

http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0927UzbekistanUS27-ON.html

[leftchick]

1. "Should I stay or Should I go"?

This is confusing. didn't rummy say we would be renting the base from Uzbek a couple of weeks ago? That was pretty strange in itself but things seem to be getting stranger and stranger.

[punpirate]

2. I think Rummy was referring to negotiations with...

... the Uzbek government about the amount of the rent. Uzbekistan wanted to throw out the US, first (one can be sure the real reason is not suppression of dissent). Then there was some talk about Uzbekistan wanting more in lease money. Now this.

I suspect that, in the background of all this, there is a deal with the Russians. The US has been spending, through the Pentagon and USAID, a huge amount of money to rebuild the former Soviet air base outside of Tashkent. Now that most of that work is done, the Russians would like their base back (they are, in fact, rather nearby, at another, smaller base that is likely not so nearly well-appointed as the one refurbished by the Americans).

Cheers.

[enigma000]

3. It may have been back-rent owed to the Uzbekis

I recall reading the US owed "rent" for the last year or so on the base in Uzbekistan. The Uzbekis gave a few reasons for wanting the US out (environmental, health of local citizens, domestic tension, etc.)

http://www.political-news.org/breaking/14915/uzbek-lawmakers-ratify-us-military-eviction-seek-compensation.html

Just as well, the US can use better allies than this thug government. Leave them to the Russians and Chinese.

[punpirate]

4. Indeed, no...

... we don't need allies such as the current Uzbekistan government.

But, our dear leaders needed troops there because of the gas pipeline plans, and for forward basing for planes going into Afghanistan (and, perhaps, Iran) but this may be the real reason why the Americans are getting the boot:

http://www.forbes.com/technology/feeds/ap/2005/09/27/ap2245641.html

Uzbekistan just signed another agreement with Gazprom. The US has been trying to horn in on these various gas and oil deals for some time (perhaps since the deal proposed by Enron in 1996), most of which have been going to Gazprom.

Uzbekistan has been in the middle of a near-decade-long struggle for regional dominance between Russia and the US. I think Russia just won in Uzbekistan.

[enigma000]

5. and so the West loses Uzbekistan

Can't say I'm overjoyed about this, but, its better than having Bush, Blair, Chirac, etc. sucking up to President Islam Karimov.

I guess we can wait for another colour-coded revolution to hit there. Until then let's remind the Uzbekis that its the Russians supporting their government.