Posted on 09/23/2001 9:51:26 AM PDT by Sawdring
TASHKENT, Sept 22: US warplanes have landed in the former Soviet republic of Uzbekistan, as Russian President Vladimir Putin, after an extended silence, voiced readiness to cooperate with US plans to strike Afghanistan - but only after they are approved by the UN security council.
Uzbek military sources said on Saturday that the US jets were stationed just outside the Uzbek capital of Tashkent and were equipped with surveillance devices, presumably aimed at the Taliban.
Uzbek officials had previously denied that they were willing to cooperate with the US in its fight against the Taliban.
Heavily armed US attack helicopters are still stationed on a military base some 40 kilometres east of Tashkent, following joint NATO-Uzbek military exercises in the region this month.
The use of former Soviet bases by Washington has been busily debated in Moscow, which has pronounced itself ready to join a world anti-terrorism campaign, but still worries that NATO forces will permanently root themselves in the lucrative Central Asian region should Russia agree to a joint attack.
In a sign that the two sides were starting to bridge their positions, Putin and US President George W. Bush held a 40-minute telephone consultation on the issue late on Saturday Moscow time, although the Kremlin refused to disclose any details of the talks.
The Russian leader - whose generals have previously refused to grant US troops any access to Central Asian countries labelled by Moscow as the "near abroad" - emerged from a near-silence at his Black Sea retreat to voice a mixed message for Washington.
Putin was further holding late-night consultations on the crisis with his most senior security officials at the Sochi base on Saturday, senior Kremlin sources said.
Earlier, speaking ahead of his Tuesday visit to Berlin, Putin hinted in an interview to Germany's ARD television that while Russia was cautious, it was willing to negotiate a joint response to the terror strikes in the United States. "This does not mean that we cannot discuss such questions together with our partners, think about the possible reaction to the terrorist acts," said Putin in remarks aired nation-wide on Moscow television on Saturday.
Putin said Russia's possible level of participation would be decided "based on the level and character of our partnership with the US and NATO".
These comments coincided with those recently made by senior Russian officials, who claim to have Putin's ear. The officials in private said that Moscow would be willing to offer its full cooperation in a new US war should Russia be accepted as a member of NATO.
The same senior Russian officials have said that NATO discussions were far more important than any debates on US plans to build a missile defence shield, an issue that has been the top priority for talks between Moscow and Washington for months.-AFP
Are you saying that Bush is using the terrorist attacks as an excuse to take over Uzbekistan? Please clarify what you are saying.
Are you saying that Bush is using the terrorist attacks as an excuse to take over Uzbekistan? Please clarify what you are saying.
I am saying that when all this blows over about the terrorists, there will remain a need to continue occupying Uzbekistan. Certain US corporate interests have been tyring to get some government muscle into their plans to secure the enormous profit in the oil and gas reserves in the area and to thwart the Russians, who understandably see it in their area of immediate interest. Is it that terribly difficult to see that two things are happening simultaneously here, one we are being told about and one we are not? Don't forget the plan to build a pipeline through Afghanistan. Would be a hell of a lot easier if American puppets, rather than the Taliban, were in power there. Remember the war to pry loose Kosovo from Yugoslavia? It's called oil pipelines, and there obviously is a lot of money in it. But is it worth our soldiers' lives?
Bush plans to have the US Army occupy Uzbekistan? When this does not happen, will you apologize and and admit that you were wrong?
Which side are you on? The Taliban's? Russia's?
Bush plans to have the US Army occupy Uzbekistan? When this does not happen, will you apologize and and admit that you were wrong?
We're already there, dude.
Go no further than Bush's own ambassador for backing on what I have written:
It may indeed be about terrorism, but baby it sure as hell is about oil.
I believe DAWN is a Pakistani news site.
Looked like?
We owe them nothing. Ever hear them apologize for helping the North Vietnamese? Sheesh
If you're sure about this then buy some stock in the oil companies and get rich. Those evil oil companies are owned by evil small investors everywhere. Good luck!
Yes there is oil in the mid-east but you know what they say. "To the victor go the spoils!"
Funny, knuckle-draggers like you used to howl when Clinton sent our armies into harm's way for the benefit of campaign contributors. I don't suppose the term "moral relativism" means anything to you.
I've been semi-following some threads that you've been engaged in lately (in between my own jousting at windmills on other threads). Damn boy. You've got stamina. These idiots that have been flushed out of the bushes (please pardon the un-intentional pun. I sweat to God that is was un-intentional, but you gotta admit that it's not bad, eh?) since 9/11 are extremely disheartening. Do you think we're doing any good?
Everything in that part of the world is at least partially about oil. However, I object to the implication that Bush is sending US troops to Uzbekistan as a trick to occupy that country.
Afganistan is a landlocked country and it is necessary to attack it from surrounding countries like Uzbekistan. The Uzbecks have been kind enough to allow us to operate from their country because they don't like the Taliban either.
In any case, from what I understand, Uzbekistan is not entirely independent. It is still in the Russian sphere of influence and it does pretty much what the Russians tell it to do in military matters.
I would be VERY suprised if an American fighting force were to remain stationed in Uzbekistan after this is over.
we're also going to drill in 'anwar'.
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