AP: U.S. troops unaffected by Uzbek unrest

[struggle4progress]

KADYR TOKTOGULOV

Associated Press

KARSHI-KHANABAD AIR BASE, Uzbekistan - Hundreds of miles from the unrest in Uzbekistan's east, an isolated U.S. air base was unaffected by the violent anti-government protests in the Fergana Valley more than a week ago, U.S. military officials said.

The unrest, in which Uzbek government troops fired on protesters in the eastern town of Andijan, "hasn't had any effect on us, really," said U.S. Air Force Col. Thomas Moore, in charge of flight operations at the base. <snip>

The Karshi-Khanabad base, also called K2, was established to support the war in Afghanistan launched to root out the Taliban and al-Qaida after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. It is located at the former Soviet Khanabad air base just outside the southern town of Karshi.

It was the first U.S. deployment in the former Soviet Union, and has mostly been used to move goods and people into Afghanistan. Uzbek President Islam Karimov has said the base would be allowed to remain here until the end of the U.S.-led campaign in Afghanistan. <snip>

http://www.aberdeennews.com/mld/aberdeennews/news/11712758.htm

[cire4]

1. Of course....they got thousands of weapons to protect them....

Why doesn't the lazy ass media ask the dozens of US Peace Corps volunteers (who are actually living within the Uzbek society) how they feel? That's the real story....

[ngGale]

2. Yes it is and completely...

under covered, to say the least.