Rumsfeld in Tajikistan to review military cooperation

[Rose Siding]

DUSHANBE (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld arrived in Tajikistan on Monday to discuss the war in neighboring Afghanistan and additional military cooperation after losing access to a base in Uzbekistan.

Tajikistan has become strategically critical to the United States and its operations in neighboring Afghanistan. The loss of base access in Uzbekistan and ongoing talks over continued access to an air base in Kyrgyzstan have enhanced the importance of Tajik cooperation.
...
"They've been very cooperative with the global war on terror and helpful since almost the beginning," Rumsfeld said.

Rumsfeld will discuss the possibility for additional basing opportunities or a more robust presence in Tajikistan, according to a senior defense official.

But Tajikistan's border security and the narcotics trade, which U.S. officials say is funding a re-emergence of the Taliban insurgency, remain challenges.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/10/AR2006071000380.html

[Monkeyman]

1. Got to wonder if he running because of Tiger Camp story

[rusty charly]

2. "challenges". to say the least.

[Roland99]

3. He and Rice have spent a lot of time in countries around Afghanistan....

working to secure US military bases to secure the transport of oil/gas...er...I mean to secure the ability to fight the war on terror.

[rodeodance]

4. put the charm mask on Rummy. You will need it (and lots of US carrots).

[paparush]

5. Rumsfeld in Tajik to review pipleline progress....

[XForce]

7. the bottom of it all

Now this is what the NeoCons are really interested in. Control (oil and gas) of Central Asia! Watch this region for it's the key to their PNAC crusade.

http://home.earthlink.net/~platter/neo-conservatism/pnac.html

The Sunday Herald article highlighted the following goals from the 2000 report, which it termed an "American grand strategy" and "blueprint of world domination":

* The U.S. must take military control of the Gulf region whether or not Saddam Hussein is in power: "While the unresolved conflict with Iraq provides the immediate justification, the need for a substantial American force presence in the Gulf transcends the issue of the regime of Saddam Hussein."

* The U.S. must "fight and decisively win multiple, simultaneous major theatre wars" as a "core mission"

* The U.S. forces are "the cavalry on the new American frontier"

* The report builds upon the 1992 draft document "Defense Planning Guidance," which claimed that the U.S. must "discourage advanced industrial nations from challenging our leadership or even aspiring to a larger regional or global role"

* Permanent U.S. bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, whether or not Saddam Hussein is in power

* Increasing military pressure on China: "it is time to increase the presence of American forces in southeast Asia" which will lead to "American and allied power providing the spur to the process of democratisation in China"

* "the creation of 'US Space Forces', to dominate space, and the total control of cyberspace to prevent 'enemies' using the internet against the US"

* The report contains ambivalent language toward bioterrorism and genetic warfare: "New methods of attack -- electronic, 'non-lethal', biological -- will be more widely available ... combat likely will take place in new dimensions, in space, cyberspace, and perhaps the world of microbes ... advanced forms of biological warfare that can 'target' specific genotypes may transform biological warfare from the realm of terror to a politically useful tool"

* Development of "world-wide command-and-control system" to contain dangerous regimes of North Korea, Libya, Syria, and Iran.

[Monkeyman]

6. Hey Brothers and Sisters

Go to progressive daily beacon read about Rummy and Nam cover up. You will see why he believes in torture

[leesa]

8. Translation: Tajikistan is upping the ante More payola please.

Rummy is more than happy to oblige...it ain't his money, after all.

[Demeter]

9. It's Baffling That NeoCons Think They Can Subvert Asia

there's not enough soldiers, money, or tax money to conquer something that far away. As Russia. They tried for 50 years.

[cliss]

11. I agree. It's the height of delusion.

Do they honestly think the money spigot will be turned on indefinitely to fund their wars of conquest? Look where we are now? For God's sake, we're broke now...when our creditors cut us off, that's it folks.

Now we know why they're there: it's the oil. There are some serious things going on in this part of the world. The US has invested billions in keeping this area secure. But the problem is, our presence has created just what the neo-cons wanted to avoid: controversy, explosive situations, populations ready to blow because we are there. Tons and tons of money down the rabbit hole because it's all falling apart.

In the meantime, Russia is also working on building a pipeline through this area. So there's a little competition for The Unpopular ones.

[LynnTheDem]

10. Tajikistan...now there's a freedom-loving democracy!

:eyes: