Russia outmaneuvered U.S. over air base, analysts say

[Robbien]

Source: McClatchy DC

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — When Kyrgyzstan announced last month that it was expelling a U.S. air base after Russia promised it $2 billion-plus in aid and loans, American officials said the decision wasn't final and a U.S. presence was still under discussion. After the Kyrgyz parliament ratified the accord with near unanimity and the country's Foreign Ministry issued a notice to vacate in 180 days, however, Russia's apparent advance at U.S. expense is almost certain.

The aid package that Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's government crafted was grounded in a hard-knuckled, realpolitik approach to this impoverished, landlocked Central Asian country.

It appears to be an offer the Kyrgyz government couldn't refuse. All the elements, starting with what had seemed to be its most modest component — a $150 million strings-free grant to Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev — filled needs that the United States either didn't see or wouldn't match.

While the Bush administration championed democratic reform in Central Asia, a policy that deeply alienates strongman rulers in the corruption-plagued region, Putin has focused on putting cash on the table and making deals.

. . .

Putin had smoothed the way for U.S. military installations to be built across Central Asia in the wake of the 9-11 terrorist attacks, but he felt that the Bush White House barely acknowledged the gesture.

"What Bush offered Putin was a hat and a barbecue in Crawford, and that was it," said Alexei Pushkov, a prominent Russian TV commentator with extensive contacts in Moscow political circles.

Read more: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/63357.html

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The McClatchy article is a very interesting read.

[acmavm]

1. Hey, we have Wall Street thugs and bankers to support dammit.

Priorities people!

:sarcasm:

[lyonn]

2. Poor GW, he couldn't help himself

The guy is mentally handicapped. He hadn't a clue about world policy and his keepers were only watching out for their secret bank accounts. And, all those poor mentally handicapped that kept voting for him and the repubs in congress still don't have a clue.

Our economy is crashing and the repubs are pretty much saying that Obama is going to ruin our economy??!! I may have to turn the tv off today as wags are doing their usual mindless babbling. Pretty much they are asking why Obama can't get anything done?? Here we go again.

[pennymoore]

3. Russia tries to prove a point

I think that the Russians are trying to prove that they can do what they want when they want....
I don't think that they will attack BUT it is funny that they also tried to fly over Ottawa (Canada's capital) while Obama was here....
Suspicious

Xocai

[creeksneakers2]

7. Russians didn't try to fly over Ottawa

The followed a flight plan that was disclosed to Canada in advance and never went into Canadian airspace. Russian planes fly up to the line to scramble the opponent's air defenses to learn what he opponent's air defenses are. We do the same thing to them. This has been going on often and for a long time and a visit from Obama had nothing to do with it.

[David__77]

4. News organizations should ban the word "strongman" from their stories.

"Strongman?" What does that mean? It's highly editorial and even colloquial. If they want to cite human rights abuses, that's another matter.

[natrat]

5. republicans seem to have barely a 4 year old mentality, incredible

[stevedeshazer]

6. Recommended