Comments | ron_broxted: U.S foreign policy and Kyrgyzstan.

ron_broxted

U.S foreign policy and Kyrgyzstan.

Feb 04, 2009 16:02

The Obama administration may be about to learn a costly lesson, namely, that in central Asia allies do not come cheaply. Kyrgyzstan wants to close the airbase at Manas, which, due to the war in Iraq and Afghanistan and what is now going on in the Swat valley of Pakistan makes Manas a very valuable piece of real estate. The trouble with modern day ( Read more... )

independent minds, central asia

Comments 6

Up the Khyber dafyddtaylor February 5 2009, 11:23:29 UTC

A vitally important base now that the Taliban have bombed the Khyber pass out of action for a few weeks.

However, as the Uzbeks seem to be leaning west again (and we have all forgotten about the dead of Andijan) things might not get too desperate.

I just want the Brit army out of Iraq, out of Afghanistan. That would fix the budget deficit.

Re: Up the Khyber ron_broxted February 5 2009, 11:34:28 UTC

The nearest analogy I can make is with the Romam empire. The Brits are perceived as "native levees".Expendable.It is a pity as America has much to give.Now,there will be a backlash.We are going to be a worse bet than Cuba under Batista or Vietnam in'74.Washington is tacitly pulling out of Blighty.

Re: Up the Khyber dafyddtaylor February 5 2009, 13:05:07 UTC

I would be delighted to see the US pull out of blighty.

It is not an alliance that delivers very much on our side.

Re: Up the Khyber ron_broxted February 5 2009, 13:37:11 UTC

Now now!Where else can one feast on Big Macs and Starbucks? It IS like Rome - we provide tone & culture (as did the Greeks) and they impose Pax Americana. Except for Cuba & Vietnam of course.

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