Kyrgyzstan wants US to pay more for military base

[Judi Lynn]

Kyrgyzstan wants US to pay more for military base
Wed Feb 15, 2006 4:47 AM ET

ALMATY (Reuters) - Kyrgyzstan wants the United States to pay 100 times more for the use of a military base in the Central Asian country, President Kurmanbek Bakiyev was quoted as saying on Wednesday.

U.S. forces moved into Central Asia, traditionally a Russian sphere of influence, when they started the hunt for Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan in 2001, establishing bases in Kyrgyzstan and neighboring Uzbekistan.

But Washington has faced suspicions from leaders across the region that it is out to unseat some governments. Uzbekistan evicted U.S. troops last year after Washington criticized Tashkent over the suppression of a rebellion in the eastern town of Andizhan.

Now Kyrgyzstan wants more money.

"Until today, the rent has been just over $2 million. According to our new calculations they will be paying $207 million," Bakiyev told Russia's Kommersant newspaper.
(snip/...)

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2006-02-15T094702Z_01_L15415268_RTRUKOC_0_US-KYRGYZSTAN-USA-BASE.xml&archived=False

[leftchick]

1. and we will pay it

as long as we have the BFEE in control we will pay whatever they are asking.

[bemildred]

2. Crank up the money printers.

Another roll or two of newsprint and we're good to go.