Afghanistan Escalation Wrinkle: Kyrgyzstan Said to Deny Base to U.S.

[BurtWorm]

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/02/03/world/AP-EU-Russia-Kyrgyzstan.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: February 3, 2009

Filed at 12:36 p.m. ET

MOSCOW (AP) -- Kyrgyzstan is ending U.S. use of a key airbase that supports military operations in Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan's president was quoted as saying Tuesday.

A Kyrgyz decision to end the U.S. use of Manas, just outside the Central Asian nation's capital of Bishkek, could have potentially far-reaching consequences for U.S. and NATO operations in Afghanistan. Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan and Iraq, said during a trip to Central Asia last month that Manas air base would be key to plans to boost U.S. troop presence in Afghanistan by up to 30,000 soldiers in the coming months.

Interfax and RIA-Novosti quoted Kurmanbek Bakiyev as making the statement just minutes after Russia announced it was providing the poor ex-Soviet country with billions of dollars in aid.

The Kyrgyz government "has made the decision on ending the term for the American base on the territory of Kyrgystan and in the near future, this decision will be announced," Bakiyev was quoted by ITAR-Tass as saying.

Kyrgyz government officials could not be immediately reached for comment. U.S. Embassy officials in Bishkek could not be immediately reached either.

The United States set up the Manas base in Kyrgyzstan and a base in neighboring Uzbekistan after the September 2001 terror attacks, to back operations in Afghanistan. Uzbekistan expelled U.S. troops from the base on its territory in 2005 in a dispute over human rights issues, leaving Manas as the only U.S. military facility in the immediate region.

Russia has long been suspicious of the U.S. presence in what it considers its strategic backyard.

[stillcool]

1. Oh dear...

[elocs]

4. Since you have maps up, do you know of any Afghanistan maps that display cities and provinces

the way a map of the U.S. will display cities and states? I have a godson who is stationed in the Korengal Valley in NE Afghanistan and it is difficult to find where things happen because so often the maps lack details of where these places are.

[stillcool]

5. I love maps...here's some links..

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/afghanistan.html
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/afghanistan/large-map.htm
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/asia/afghanistan/

[elocs]

6. Thanks, I have to look through them.

It's also hard in regard to the Korengal Valley since it is so close to Pakistan. Something happens in Pakistan and it is difficult to determine where it is in relation to the Korengal.

[stillcool]

7. I found one that might be helpful...

Afghanistan's Korengal Valley -- located roughly north of Peshawar, Pakistan

[elocs]

9. Yeah, that is good and it does even show the Korengal Valley

which some maps don't even identify. That map of Afghanistan would be better if it identified the outline provinces like we do our states and show the major cities. The Korengal Valley is a very nasty place to be with its close proximity to Pakistan and if there are any casualties by our forces they shut down all communication until the family is notified and sometimes that takes days, days of waiting to hear.

[stillcool]

10. that must be so hard...

I did see some pictures of soldiers, and read some articles about what is going on there. It's amazing what is going on, and how little is reported. I hope your Godson comes home safe and soon.

[elocs]

11. He is supposed to be home on leave about the middle of this month

and his tour will be done in August, but who knows if he will be extended. I heard of guys there who thought they were going home in weeks having their tour extended by months and that has got to be demoralizing. I am more worried about him being hurt mentally than any physical harm.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. The handwriting on the wall is now flashing, "Get the Fuck Out".

[EFerrari]

8. Or, maybe they just want more money. n/t

[bigtree]

12. yep

Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev said the decision was prompted by U.S. refusals to pay more for the base . . .

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/03/AR2009020303459_pf.html

[bigtree]

3. maybe we didn't bribe them enough