Update on U.S. Base in Uzbekistan
In addition to an earlier post by Katy, on July 29 the Government of Uzbekistan formally asked the U.S. to evacuate the base.
According to BBC,
The notice to leave Karshi-Khanabad air base, known as K2, was given to the US embassy in the Uzbek capital on Friday.
A Pentagon spokesman said the US was “evaluating the note to see exactly what it means”.
A hint for the Pentagon: it means “get out.” This was predictable though. Close cooperation and cozying up to the Karimov regime (known among other things for boiling its opponents, shooting 800+ people in Andijan, and selecting the 15th century ogre Tamerlane as the national hero of Uzbekistan) was not compatible with Bush’s pledge not to work with tyrannies, most recently given in his second inaugural. The Bush people may not take their own words seriously, but Karimov did - he thought U.S. is out there to get him.
Why is relevant for Armenia? The South Caucasus, including Armenia, is an overflight zone for U.S. aircraft en route to Afghanistan. They will now have to go elsewhere (maybe in our region?), or abandon this route completely.
I have a feeling that the base will move to AZ or GE.
Comment by Katy — 7/30/2005 @ 8:08 pm
Gateway Pundit Coverage: http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2005/07/uzbekistan-evicts-us.html
Publius Pundit Coverage:
http://www.publiuspundit.com/index.php?cat=34
And, as always, http://www.registan.net/.
Comment by Katy — 7/30/2005 @ 10:00 pm
I wonder if the route of export of burgeoning opium production in Afganistan (since Americans “liberated” it) coincides with military…
Comment by Գագիկ — 7/30/2005 @ 10:27 pm
If Uzbeks succeed, and Russian and Chinese will press Kirgistan to pull US bases, there would be no need for bases in GE or AZ.
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