Rumsfeld Seeks Deal on Bases in Kyrgyzstan

[leftchick]

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/25/international/asia/25cnd-rumsfeld.html

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, July 25 - Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld arrived in this Central Asian nation today to shore up an unsettled military basing arrangement here that has been critical to operations in Afghanistan. The refueling and cargo mission operated by the American military from Manas Air Base, just outside the Kyrgyz capital, has been essential to ferry aid, troops and equipment to and from Afghanistan. About 1,000 American troops operate from the airfield, the base for a dozen KC-135 refueling jets and C-130 cargo planes.

But this agreement appeared to be cast in jeopardy earlier this month when Kyrgyzstan and three other Central Asian states joined Russia and China in calling for the United States to set a deadline for withdrawing from the base here and another in neighboring Uzbekistan.

Mr. Rumsfeld told reporters traveling with him en route here from Washington that the status of the bases was a matter of negotiations with the host countries, not the regional alliance, which is known as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and is dominated by Russia and China.

"We have good arrangements in this part of the world with respect to basing and overflight rights," Mr. Rumsfeld said, referring to other regional states, like Tajikistan. "They have been a great help to Afghanistan and a great help to the global war on terror."



U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (L) stands with U.S. Ambassador Stephen Young (R) and U.S. Army Colonel Randy Kee (C) as he arrives in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan July 25, 2005. Rumsfeld said on Monday Washington would keep military bases in Central Asia, while officials moved to dispel fears it wants permanent facilities in the region. REUTERS/Joe Raedle/Pool

[H5N1]

1. Nice duds, Rummy, you sick bastard.

(Love that Save the Ocelot website!)

[Lerkfish]

2. and why would we need such bases...hmmmmm? could it be SATAN????

er, I mean, BushCo needs them for the impending invasion of Iran?

[lumpy]

3. Gotta' protect thso oil fields

doncha' know.

[4MoreYearsOfHell]

4. The war on terra will last indefinitely

or at least until the Kashagan oil field runs dry...

[NVMojo]

5. about 5 years ago, I worked for a new hospital chain that had bought

our county hospital and turned it into one of those Frist Family clones known as "for-profit" hospital chains. Through our state university medical training system, a team of physicians, nurses and hospital staff from Kyrgystan came here and toured our facility in a "learning venture" because their country had been forced to convert from a public health system to a "for profit" system. They were very gracious people of Mongolian descent who had a problem with nurses doing what they considered to be the jobs of doctors in the patient care realm. They really had a difficult time coming to terms with how to make a profit in "healthcare". Looks like our capitalism has fecked up their country in many more ways since. How sad.

[cliss]

6. Is it just me, or is Donald RumsFailed

looking a little aged? His hair looks like a matted Brillo pad. His face looks a little wrinkly. That smile looks pasted on. So much for the "70-year old Sex Symbol" that Bush talked about.

And look at Stephen Young. Doesn't he look like a complete thug?

I know they're on official business. But they look sweaty. I've read that we have worn out our welcome in some of these countries. I think Kyrgyzstan doesn't want a US presence there any more, along with a couple of other countries.

They're plannin' to do some horse tradin'.