Posted on 02/04/2009 6:03:49 AM PST by Mad Dawgg
MOSCOW — In a setback to the escalating U.S. military efforts in Afghanistan , the president of Kyrgyzstan said Tuesday that his government will shut down the American air base in his country.
U.S. officials say that the Manas Air Base is vital to plans to send an additional 30,000 American troops to Afghanistan , a linchpin of President Barack Obama's efforts to pacify the country.
The announcement by President Kurmanbek Bakiyev came in Moscow , not in his own capital, and shortly after the Russian government reportedly agreed to lend Kyrgyzstan $2 billion , write off $180 million in debt and add another $150 million in aid. Although the Russian government didn't release a statement about the decision, the timing and place of the announcement indicated that the Kremlin had been involved.
The Russian government has been pushing to restore its clout in the former Soviet sphere of influence — despite deep economic problems at home — a trend that most analysts say will make Obama's dealings with Russia delicate at best.
"It's a direct challenge to the new American administration. Russia is going out of its way to close an American base," said Pavel Felgenhauer , a Moscow -based military analyst.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
Maybe Kyrgyzstan can by some vowels with that money.
..it's no problem,they will just be another bailout option
I nominate the above as Quote of the Day.
(CD you owe me a new Keyboard sans Coffee spew!)
Thanks! Hehe.
Of course I meant “buy”. Perhaps I need some coffee as well! :)
Agreed. Well done.
“It’s a direct challenge to the new American administration. Russia is going out of its way to close an American base”
...and succeeded. Note Putin & Co. didn’t try that with Bush in the White House. The zero is so damned over his head and it’s becoming more and more obvious with each passing day.
I guess Barry’s used to getting b!+chslapped by Michelle, but to have every third-world hobag pimp you on the international stage has gotta sting some, don’t ya think?
And thus, Obama starts his schooling in how real world diplomacy works.
Clinton Deploys Vowels To Bosnia
"...The deployment, dubbed Operation Vowel Storm by the State Department, is set for early next week, with the Adriatic port cities of Sjlbvdnzv and Grzny slated to be the first recipients. Two C-130 transport planes, each carrying over 500 24-count boxes of "E's," will fly from Andrews Air Force Base across the Atlantic and airdrop the letters over the cities.Citizens of Grzny and Sjlbvdnzv eagerly await the arrival of the vowels. "My God, I do not think we can last another day," Trszg Grzdnjkln, 44, said. "I have six children and none of them has a name that is understandable to me or to anyone else. Mr. Clinton, please send my poor, wretched family just one 'E.' Please."...
Never let the Russians smell weakness. The only diplomatic language they understand is the two-by-four to the head, or the credible threat thereof.
Zero is not a credible threat.
The base at Bishkek-Manas has been an important one in our Afghanistan efforts. Plus, our troops deployed there have done some unbelievably great work with civil affairs projects in Kyrgystan. I hope the Kyrgyz president enjoys his 30 pieces of silver.
This is one of the governments we put in place with a “colored revolution”. If we had left well enough alone in Central Asia the Kyrgyz government would still be crooks, but friendly. We’d probably also still have good relations with Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Now all Russia has to do is secretly fund the Taliban, who will then close the Khyber Pass, and we will be facing defeat in Afghanistan.
Kyrgystan=Kyrgyzstan (as if anyone would notice the typo)
“colored revolution”
I’m not touching that one (as it may or may not relate to the recent U.S. election).
Maybe he can make glib proclamations and lay a fist bump on the Russians and everything will be resolved.
Please!!! No more war for Vowels!!
:-) Good one!
Obama is being tested early and oftern. Welcome to the big leagues. ...and a bidding war. “Alliances” aren’t for free.
“Please!!! No more war for Vowels!!”
Right! Ohmigod — that’s the last thing we need. Doesn’t anyone remember the Hungarian-Czech Vowel Wars? They were awful!! The poor Hungarians lost badly and were left with nothing! ;-)
“The zero is so damned over his head and it’s becoming more and more obvious with each passing day.”
No joke!
Let’s see..so far...Russia undermining us at every turn, North Korea threatening S Korea and intercontinental missile launches, Iran launching satellites for thier nukes,Palestinians stirring up trouble and terror in Israel..China threatening not to buy our debt....Europe warning him of trade wars...AQ and the Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan ramping up.....Mexico on the brink of civil war....who have I missed?
They all see Obama as weak and stupid!
Meanwhile, back at home, Obama is more worried about his poll numbers in the US and getting his mug on TV everyday! Serving $100.00 an ounce steak at WH dinners, cranking the heat up high enough to grow orchids, pondering Jessica Simpson’s recent weight gain, and trying to decide on a puppy for his kids for the 12th month!
This country is in serious trouble.
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