Uzbekistan May Crack Down on Aid Groups

[Rose Siding]

TASHKENT, Uzbekistan -- Uzbekistan's president threatened on Friday to crack down on Western aid groups whom he accuses of engaging in opposition-oriented political activities in the tightly controlled ex-Soviet country.

"Examination of some Western aid groups has shown that their activity goes far beyond declared programs and it aims at certain goals," President Islam Karimov said in a speech to the new parliament, which was elected last month in voting that international observers said fell significantly short of democratic standards.
...
The Central Asian nation is an important ally of the United States in the anti-terrorism coalition, allowing a U.S. airbase on its territory, though Washington has cut aid to the country to underlines complaints over lack of democratic reforms.

Uzbekistan has long drawn international criticism for the lack of democratic reforms and poor human rights record. No opposition parties are officially recognized.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-uzbekistan-president,0,1345815.story?coll=sns-ap-nationworld-headlines

[AG78]

1. But we're spreading

free...uh, forget it.

We'll keep our military bases there, and then go to war with Uzbekistan the moment they outlast their usefulness.

[DBoon]

2. No, the moment we find oil

That's when we go to war with Uzbekistan