NationStates Jolt Archive


Uzbekistan evicts U.S. troops

Dobbsworld
28-08-2005, 15:14
http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2005/08/26/uzbekEviction20050826.html
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CBC News

The Uzbek State on Friday endorsed the government's decision to evict U.S. troops near a military base. The 93 senators voted unanimously to support the July order from President Islam Karimov, giving the United States six months to vacate the airbase at Karshi-Khanabad, in the southern Kashkadarya region.

The United States and other western countries harshly criticized Uzbekistan for using force against mostly unarmed civilians in an uprising in Andijan on May 13. While rights groups said up to 750 people died in the crackdown, the government put the death toll at 187.

Karimov, who has governed the Central Asian country for 16 years, blamed the violence on Islamic militants, and has rejected the demands for an outside inquiry. Strong support has come from Russia and China, both wary of the U.S. military presence in the strategic and resource-rich region.

"We know that fundamentalist moods arise wherever U.S. bases appear," Kashkadarya governor Nuritdin Zainiyev said before the vote. "Enemies of the United States appear wherever there is a U.S. military presence, and we don't want to be caught in-between."

Zainiyev also complained that Uzbekistan had spent $160 million US to maintain the infrastructure of the Karshi-Khanabad base since the arrival of U.S. troops, and the U.S. "didn't pay anything."

The base has been an important staging point for U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, being used to move supplies, including humanitarian aid, into northern Afghanistan. It also is a refuelling point for transport planes.

The vote in the lower chamber was not necessary to confirm the government's order, but was being used to show popular support.
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So how long before the US can count its' friends and allies on one hand? And how much sooner than that will any talk of "friends and allies" be shelved in favour of the more generic term "interests"?
Serapindal
28-08-2005, 15:15
Conquer Uzkebistan, and make into a Puppet Government, or fully incorporate it into U.S. Territory. Problem solved.
Neo-Anarchists
28-08-2005, 15:16
Conquer Uzkebistan, and make into a Puppet Government, or fully incorporate it into U.S. Territory. Problem solved.
Err, perhaps we should ask the Uzbeks how they feel about that first?
Kryozerkia
28-08-2005, 15:18
Err, perhaps we should ask the Uzbeks how they feel about that first?
They didn't ask the Iraqis or the Afghanis...
Dobbsworld
28-08-2005, 15:22
Conquer Uzkebistan, and make into a Puppet Government, or fully incorporate it into U.S. Territory. Problem solved.
Wow, you guys must want it badly. I wonder what Russia and China would have to say about that want. Probably nothing too good, I'll warrant.
German Nightmare
28-08-2005, 15:23
They didn't ask the Iraqis or the Afghanis...
Yeah, and we can all see how happy and grateful they are.

I saw a news report on that very topic just yesterday. Its main focus was on the German airbase which is the loophole to support the German troops in Afghanistan. Without Usbekistan, Germany couldn't suppy its troops there - maybe the only reason why Germany didn't voice that loud a protest other than sticking to what the EU said about the mentioned incident...
Messerach
28-08-2005, 15:32
I've heard that the leader of Uzbekistan boils his opponents alive. The USA should really learn its lesson from Al Qaeda and Saddam and stop being friendly with these people even if their countries are convenient. I'm not advocating invading, that would just incite more terrorism, but the US should condemn all tyrants, not just those that are unfriendly and have lots of oil.
Dobbsworld
28-08-2005, 15:34
Without Usbekistan, Germany couldn't suppy its troops there - maybe the only reason why Germany didn't voice that loud a protest other than sticking to what the EU said about the mentioned incident...
Lucky Germans.

So, what happens next, then? Can the US find some other suckers in the region, or will they have to make nice with the Uzbeks and start paying the local graft?
Dragons Bay
28-08-2005, 15:35
*throws sticks and stones at random people*

Yeah!! Get out of our backyard!! Go!!!
Serapindal
28-08-2005, 15:35
I've heard that the leader of Uzbekistan boils his opponents alive. The USA should really learn its lesson from Al Qaeda and Saddam and stop being friendly with these people even if their countries are convenient. I'm not advocating invading, that would just incite more terrorism, but the US should condemn all tyrants, not just those that are unfriendly and have lots of oil.

No, invade every place like this. (Unless it's a strong nation, like China) Make no exception (Unless it's a strong Nation). See a Terrorist, shoot them. If another pops up, shoot them.

Keep shooting them, and eventually all these countries will run out of manpower, and no more Terrorism.
Dobbsworld
28-08-2005, 15:37
I've heard that the leader of Uzbekistan boils his opponents alive.
Not to seem unduly hostile - I haven't heard much positive about Islam Karimov either, but "boils his opponents alive"? That sounds like something out of Batman... I don't suppose you'd care substantiating that particular claim, would you?
Dobbsworld
28-08-2005, 15:38
No, invade every place like this. (Unless it's a strong nation, like China) Make no exception (Unless it's a strong Nation). See a Terrorist, shoot them. If another pops up, shoot them.

Keep shooting them, and eventually all these countries will run out of manpower, and no more Terrorism.
You'll be playing 'human whack-a-mole' for the next half-century or longer, in that case...