U.S. needs Kyrgyz base to fight Taliban: Gates

[maddezmom]

Source: Reuters

BISHKEK (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Tuesday Washington's agreement to use a military air base in Kyrgyzstan was necessary to support the war in Afghanistan.

Last month Kyrgyz lawmakers urged the government to evict U.S. troops from the base which is an important hard currency earner for the impoverished Central Asian state.

"I think what's important for the people of Kyrgyzstan to understand is that our use of Manas (Air Force Base) is in support of a larger war on terrorism in which Kyrgyzstan is an ally of virtually every other nation on earth," Gates said.

"We are all working to try and prevent a resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan and our use of Manas is one way in which Kyrgyzstan can play a very important and constructive role in cooperation with many other nations, just not the United States," he told reporters after meeting Kyrgyzstan's minister of defense.



Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070605/pl_nm/usa_kyrgyzstan_gates_dc

[IndianaGreen]

1. The Kyrgyz people don't want us in their country

and they properly see America's problems as not their problems. American dollars can only go so far.

[saigon68]

2. Gates another NeoCon in a Pathetic Disguise

How many DLC democrats voted to confirm this Clown?

[IndianaGreen]

3. Not only they confirmed him, they also carried him on their shoulders!

Let's see what they do when Gates presents his Surge II plan. I am sure our brave DLC Democrats will draw a line in the sand. :eyes:

[saigon68]

4. Yes they did

Boot lickers

[David__77]

5. If I were Kyrghyz president, I'd demand a $1 billion annual payment.

Sure, don't evict them, just demand a just payment.

[IndianaGreen]

6. Considering how Putin feels about Bush, I wouldn't make myself a target of Russian missiles

Bush crowning achievement as President will be the reignating the Cold War and launching a new arms race.

[djones9916]

7. Stories probably not telling it all.

Did the story bother saying how many lawmakers urged it? I doubt it. I was stationed there during the National Revolution in 2004. They had their chance to kick us out then, woulda been real easy. They didn't want to though. The Kyrgies love us. We put a LOT of money into their economy. We've rebuilt their only international airport. We do huge amounts of humanitarian work. We provide a strong sense security. The only thing that Kyrgyzstan will gain from us leaving, is a rapidly falling economy. I some how doubt that the majority of the government would want that.

[Roland99]

8. He's just filling in where Rumsfeld and Rice have left off. >>>>>>

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=1958984