Russia lets U.S. supplies through to Afghanistan

[sabra]

Source: Reuters

MOSCOW - Russia will let the United States send supplies across its territory to Afghanistan and offer flexible support, a top Moscow diplomat said on Wednesday, a day after Kyrgyzstan decided to close down a U.S. military airbase.

Moscow had in recent days responded in principle to a United States request to provide logistical support to aid Washington’s forces in Afghanistan, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin said in a conference call with reporters.

‘We positively reacted to the request of the United States for the transit through Russia of goods and materials to Afghanistan,’ Karasin said.

‘We will be flexible in many other ways which will support our joint success in Afghanistan—that would be the basic school of thinking from which we will proceed,’ said Karasin.

Read more: http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticle08.asp?xfile=data/international/2009/February/international_February341.xml§ion=international

[Fovea]

1. This is the first ray of sunshine

in our long national cluster fuck in the region in quite some time, IMO.

[AtheistCrusader]

3. No kidding.

The idea we could actually start working WITH Russia, instead of hostile posturing at their every move, is refreshing.

[disndat]

4. While enriching the

military industrial complex.

[Fovea]

6. Here is how it could actually work

We agree with the northern warlords to pressure the Taliban back into the autonomous tribal areas for infrastructure aid, and a guaranteed purchase of the Opium crop and continued police action aid with air support.

Yes, I agree that this supports the MIC. But *far* less than our current strategy.

It also builds a NATO like agreement that includes Russia and the US.

That will be the cornerstone of any agreement to demilitarize the planet.
China cannot control any more territory than they do, and China is about to go up in flames.
Russia is the real focus of competition and cooperation.

I would rather fight with Russia than against them, and in so doing, create stability in a region that will most likely see the next nuclear war if we stay there as a presence. .

[Ian David]

2. Because Russia so loves their Afghan brothers. n/t

[FarCenter]

5. Russia provided considerable support to the Northern Alliance which liberated Afghanistan

from the Taliban.

The Northern Alliance was mostly Uzbek, Tajik, Hazara and Darii, who have no love for the Pashtuns.