Uzbekistan evicts United States from air base

[ahsingjai]

Uzbekistan evicts United States from air base
Sat Jul 30, 2005 1:30 PM ET
http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2005-07-30T172956Z_01_N30459393_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-UZBEKISTAN-USA-BASE-DC.XML

By Joanne Morrison

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Uzbekistan has told the United States to leave a military base that has served as a hub for missions to Afghanistan since shortly after the September 11, 2001, attacks, U.S. officials said on Saturday.

The U.S. Embassy in Tashkent was informed of the decision on the Karshi-Khanabad air base, also known as K2, used by the United States since it began searching for Osama bin Laden.

"I can confirm that our embassy in Tashkent received a diplomatic note from the Uzbek government late this week to terminate the agreement for use of the K2 air field," said State Department spokeswoman Nancy Beck.

"This is a bilateral agreement between two sovereign nations and under that agreement either side has the option to terminate the agreement," she said without elaborating.

Uzbekistan will give the United States six months to move aircraft, personnel and equipment, The Washington Post newspaper reported. The Pentagon and State Department declined to comment on any timeline.

The U.S. military is working with the State Department to evaluate the note "to see exactly what it means," Defense Department spokesman Glenn Flood said. A White House spokesman declined to comment.

The action could create logistical problems for U.S. military operations in Afghanistan as well as relief workers in the region.

"The air field has been important to us and the U.S. allies in operations over there," Flood said.

The United States has regarded its bases in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan as vital for operations in Afghanistan. However, U.S. presence in Central Asia has caused tensions with Russia and China, which joined the five ex-Soviet Central Asian states this month to demand a deadline for leaving the bases.

U.S. relations with authoritarian Uzbekistan also have been strained by the Uzbek government's bloody suppression in May of a rebellion in the eastern town of Andizhan, which drew U.S. criticism.

Just last Monday, however, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld responded to a question about maintaining the base in Uzbekistan by saying: "We've had a good relationship. It's a good relationship now."

He was speaking during a visit to Kyrgyzstan, whose defense minister said the United States would not need a military presence in that country once stability had returned to Afghanistan.

[hooligan]

Why do the Uzbekistanites hate America?

[ahsingjai]

Maybe because U.S criticized them.


U.S. relations with authoritarian Uzbekistan also have been strained by the Uzbek government's bloody suppression in May of a rebellion in the eastern town of Andizhan, which drew U.S. criticism.

[kpih]

The 'Coalition of the Willing' is not so willing anymore.

[younggiftedandblack]

I like the way they have something to say AFTER we went into there and cleaned up that radioactive dump of a base. Built a new infrastructure and pumped money into their economy. :rolleyes:

[AliBabaIncorporated]

I guess this means Kyrgyzstan (coincidentally enough, directly on the Chinese border) becomes a hell of a lot more important now. Out of all the former members of the Soviet Empire in Asia, them (and Mongolia) are probably the best exemplars of democracy. And now they've suddenly become an important geopolitical pawn in another Great Game between US and China ...

One other thing ... look up "extraordinary rendition" uzbekistan --- so now where are they gonna send all those prisoners?

[Martino]

I guess this means Kyrgyzstan (coincidentally enough, directly on the Chinese border) becomes a hell of a lot more important now. Out of all the former members of the Soviet Empire in Asia, them (and Mongolia) are probably the best exemplars of democracy. And now they've suddenly become an important geopolitical pawn in another Great Game between US and China ...


Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have been playing Russia and the US off each other for a long time. It would be interesting to see whether Uzbekistan's action represents some deeper shift in the region.

Pro-American states like Pakistan should beware. Hot spots like Baluchistan (Pakistan's poorest and most independence-minded province) are on the route of a new American pipeline, and they don't like it one bit.

[VV o n g B a]

One other thing ... look up "extraordinary rendition" uzbekistan --- so now where are they gonna send all those prisoners?they'll send them to our good ol' pals in syria (http://www.usamnesia.com/2005/02/extraordinary-rendition.html).

[yoMAMA]

time to get the uhaul moving I guess....

[Martino]

Uzbek lawmakers back US eviction

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4186770.stm

Uzbekistan's Senate has approved the government's decision to evict US forces from a key base which Washington uses for operations in Afghanistan.

Last month the government reportedly gave the US six months to leave Karshi-Khanabad air base.

Relations with Washington were strained over the Uzbek authorities' bloody suppression of a protest in May.

Neighbouring Kyrgyzstan has also told the US it can no longer use one of its bases if the Afghan situation improves.

Washington's rivals for regional dominance, Russia and China, have made it clear they do not want to see US forces in the region on a permanent basis.

The Washington Post reported in July that the US had been given six months to move aircraft, personnel and military equipment from the base in southern Uzbekistan.

The eviction notice came days after US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld returned from a visit to Uzbekistan's neighbours Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Mr Rumsfeld said he did not believe US operations in Afghanistan would be hurt if Tashkent denied continued use of its airbase, because there were other options in the region.

Flights into the Karshi-Khanabad (K2) base had already been reduced at the request of the Uzbek authorities, after the US criticised the government over events in Andijan.

Earlier this month, the US signalled that it might withhold $22m of aid to Uzbekistan, unless it allowed a full inquiry into the incident.

There are still disputed versions of exactly what happened on 13 May, when troops fired on a crowd of people.

Leading human rights groups say many hundreds of civilians were killed, with Human Rights Watch describing the incident as a "massacre".

[ahsingjai]

I think Uzberkistan won't need the 22mil aid if China and Russia offer more.

[Martino]

US withholds rent for Uzbekistan base

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4314432.stm

The US Senate has voted to block a $23m payment to Uzbekistan, after the Uzbek government ended an agreement for US troops to use an airbase there.

The payment, for past use of the base, will be postponed for at least a year.

The Karshi-Khanabad base has been an integral part of US military operations in the region for nearly four years.

But in July, Tashkent asked the US to leave the base, after it criticised the violent suppression of demonstrations in the town of Andijan in May.

"Paying our bills is important. But more important is America's standing up for itself, avoiding the mis-impression that we overlook massacres and avoiding cash transfers to the treasury of a dictator," said Republican Senator John McCain, who sponsored the amendment that will block payment.

Mr McCain said the actions of Uzbek President Islam Karimov were so alarming that the Senate should be considering sanctions against him, "not how to transfer millions of taxpayers' dollars to his government."

The airbase at Karshi-Khanabad (K-2), in south-eastern Uzbekistan, has been an important hub for US operations in neighbouring Afghanistan following the 11 September 2001 attacks.

Its location in a secure area, a short journey from the Afghan border, made it an ideal logistical centre.

But in July the Uzbek government gave American troops six months to leave the base - a move which analysts say is linked to American criticism over the bloody suppression of unrest in Andijan.

There are still disputed versions of exactly what happened in the incident, when troops fired on a crowd of people.

The government says the violence was the result of an attempt by Islamic militants to seize power, and puts the number of dead at 187.

But witnesses say more than 500 people were killed, and human rights groups have repeatedly called for an international investigation.

[LaiSteve66]

Why do the Uzbekistanites hate America?

Maybe because of all the imperialistic shit that we do.

[VV o n g B a]

Maybe because of all the imperialistic shit that we do.they rented out an airbase for us to use to attack and occupy another nation. u think they care about imperialism? they don't give a rats ass what we do as long as we don't critisize them for killing their own ppl for demonstrating against the gov't.

[ahsingjai]

at least they didn't sign a contract with no ending date like Cuba.

[Martino]

I guess this means Kyrgyzstan (coincidentally enough, directly on the Chinese border) becomes a hell of a lot more important now. Out of all the former members of the Soviet Empire in Asia, them (and Mongolia) are probably the best exemplars of democracy. And now they've suddenly become an important geopolitical pawn in another Great Game between US and China ...

It seems America agreed with you - it agreed to pay the (undisclosed) sum Kyrgyzstan was asking for to keep its base there:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5180818.stm

Kyrgyzstan is to extend the US lease on an airbase often used to launch US operations in Afghanistan.

US forces have used the Manas airbase, near the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, since 2001.

There was no information about how much the US would pay to use the base, but the Kyrgyz government had previously asked for a substantial fee increase.

The US will reportedly provide $150m (£82m) in aid and assistance to Kyrgyzstan over the next year.

The country's president had previously asked for a ten-fold increase in fees from $2m to more than $200m, according to reports.

The Manas base is an important logistical hub for the US, and an estimated 1,700 troops and millions of gallons of fuel pass through it every month.

It became even more important last year after Uzbekistan told the US to leave its other Central Asian base, at Karshi-Kanabad.

[Wuhan]

Yeah it pizzez me off that white guyz are after our azian women whereever they go..

How about the indian airbase in tajikistan? I hear the indians are increasing their numbers there against China.