Kyrgyzstan may kick out U.S. military

Kick us out and lose 150 Million Dollars a year??? I think not!

Jesse wrote:

Kick us out and lose 150 Million Dollars a year??? I think not!

You are right, but on a higher level, China is paying them. The US owe so much money to China, that 150 million is just a drop in the bucket:)

You are correct Ahmad, China is paying everyone,and there are more Chinese here in New Zealand than there are New Zealanders.

The government of any country has a primary and fundamental responsibility to look after the welfare of its people. The tragic and rediculous events caused by some irresponsible members of our military (bizzare case of the "kidnapped" major, accidental collision of aircraft at Manas, fatal shooting of a truck driver at Manas) have caused people to distrust our military. Of course the government will consider removing the problem. But of course, there is a great deal to consider. It is a truly strategic decision with consequences that reach far into the future. What is best for Kyrgyzstan? Alignment with the US or with Russia or with China? Given today's circumstances, what would you do?

I think Kyrgyzstan should become a neutral country and run all military activities out of their country.

I think Kyrgyzstan should become a part of Uzbekistan

Ahmad you have an excellent concept.
For a country like Kyrgyzstan it could provide exactly the conditions necessary for economic and social development.
Of course, neutrality is difficult to maintain. Especially in an area like Central Asia. Its like trying to avoid affiliating with a gang in South LA! If you don't want to be targeted by ruffians, you had better join up with somebody!
Neutrality and forbidding foreign militarization requires strength in and of itself. Have you ever been to Switzerland? The Swiss have an extremely professional and competent (but small) military.
I wish Kyrgystan could develop its defensive capabilities to the point where it can prevent outside interferance by external criminal, extremist, and military threats.
The kyrgyk people are wonderful people! I am rooting for them!
And I wonder why ScoutAZ believes merging with Uzbekistan is a solution.

ScoutAZ wrote:

I think Kyrgyzstan should become a part of Uzbekistan

I think it is not the best idea of yours... But then again you have right to think funny thoughts...

Jesse wrote:

Kick us out and lose 150 Million Dollars a year??? I think not!

And you believe this fairy tale?

Nuriya wrote:

<quoted text>
And you believe this fairy tale?

Did you know the Russians maintain an airbase at Kant - only about 30 km from Manas. They pay Kyrgyzstan absolutely nothing.

Why? Because they are able to hold the threat of a reduction in vital trade over the head of the Kyrgyk government.

Keith wrote:

<quoted text>
Did you know the Russians maintain an airbase at Kant - only about 30 km from Manas. They pay Kyrgyzstan absolutely nothing.
Why? Because they are able to hold the threat of a reduction in vital trade over the head of the Kyrgyk government.

And what kind of threat USA can hold over KR Gov?

Me-Me wrote:

<quoted text>
And what kind of threat USA can hold over KR Gov?

Only the threat that we will not be there to pump money into their economy, support democratic reform, promote free trade, offer educational stimuli, etc.
You know, all the weird stuff associated with democracy and capitalism.
When asked to leave by a government, we leave. Like we left the Philippines. Most Filipinos are worse off for it.
Most national governments recognize the benefits of associating with western democracies as opposed to totalitarian regimes because good things like personal income & standard of living increases, personal freedoms increase, corruption decreases, happen.
Governments that don't give a damn about people - only thier own nucleus of power holders - are not interested in ties with democratic societies. Like the Chavez regime in Venezuala. Or the insane nightmare of the Kim regime of N. Korea.
If the government of Kyrgyzstan tells the US to get out, we will.
Won't be so good for the future prospects of the country. Who will step in? Russia and China.
Didn't Kyrgyzstan already choose to break away from the Russian (Soviet) disaster?

Keith wrote:

<quoted text>
Only the threat that we will not be there to pump money into their economy, support democratic reform, promote free trade, offer educational stimuli, etc.
You know, all the weird stuff associated with democracy and capitalism.
When asked to leave by a government, we leave. Like we left the Philippines. Most Filipinos are worse off for it.
Most national governments recognize the benefits of associating with western democracies as opposed to totalitarian regimes because good things like personal income & standard of living increases, personal freedoms increase, corruption decreases, happen.
Governments that don't give a damn about people - only thier own nucleus of power holders - are not interested in ties with democratic societies. Like the Chavez regime in Venezuala. Or the insane nightmare of the Kim regime of N. Korea.
If the government of Kyrgyzstan tells the US to get out, we will.
Won't be so good for the future prospects of the country. Who will step in? Russia and China.
Didn't Kyrgyzstan already choose to break away from the Russian (Soviet) disaster?

I am impressed with your attention to my country. But seems like you cannot know and see the diference between Asian and Central Asian countries. Pity. To be quite frank, I am not going to change your point of view as you seem to be a bit too much confident in it. Kyrgyzstan lived (in Soviet Union times) and will live without U.S. military very well. Russia is much more closer to Kyrgyzstan in terms of mentality and history. USA have its own interests. If you know the situation very well from the beginning to the end, then tell me, please, what kind of good influnce, actions USA have made on KG and what Russia.

Me-Me wrote:

<quoted text>
I am impressed with your attention to my country. But seems like you cannot know and see the diference between Asian and Central Asian countries. Pity. To be quite frank, I am not going to change your point of view as you seem to be a bit too much confident in it. Kyrgyzstan lived (in Soviet Union times) and will live without U.S. military very well. Russia is much more closer to Kyrgyzstan in terms of mentality and history. USA have its own interests. If you know the situation very well from the beginning to the end, then tell me, please, what kind of good influnce, actions USA have made on KG and what Russia.

No, no! My opinion can change! I hope I am not so stubborn (or stupid) that facts will not change my opinion!

You have a extremely good point - I am an outsider looking at the situation from a Western viewpoint. We have a tendancy to do what is called "mirror imaging". We expect others to act as we would act in the same situation. It is a very short sighted and dangerous attitude.

You are absolutely correct that Kyrgyzstan has been greatly influenced by the Russians and that you are much closer to Russia in mentality and history. How could that not be the case?

And if you look at current headlines, you see that President Bakiyev has stated that closer relations with Russia are Kyrgyzstan's top foreign policy priority. This is not surprising or alarming. It is to be expected!

I think my point is that the US would not force Kyrgyzstan into any sort of relations it did not want. I think our foreign policy is such that we encourage other nations to embrace democracy and the capitalist style economy because those systems seem to produce friendly, responsible societies.

That is good for others, and good for us, and good for the world.

But you are so right! To think that Kyrgyzstan should be forced into some kind of exclusive ties with the US would be crazy. Politics in the classroom is much different from "Realpolitik" in the real world!

Please forgive me if I give the impression that Kyrgyzstan should abandon everything and suddenly declare itself to be exclusively aligned with the US. That would be crazy.

Kyrgyzstan must carefully and wisely chart a course that will bring the best possible benefits to itself and to its neighbors.

It's just that when you look at the track record and performance of societies that embrace totalitarian/socialist regimes vs societies that embrace the democratic/capitalist model... well, it is quite clear which produces the best results!

As a matter of fact, China has finally understood the benefits of a capitalist economy. I believe there is a current saying in China - capitalism, democracy later. The meaning is, "let's generate a strong economy and gain a secure place in the world, then we can afford to experiment with a non-autocratic government."

Sounds like a good plan!

My wish is to see Kyrgyzstan happy, free, prosperous, and secure. This is my wish for all countries.

It's a big wish!

ScoutAZ wrote:

I think Kyrgyzstan should become a part of Uzbekistan

NEVER
We might get united withkazakhstan, but NOT with Uzbekistan. UZ sucks

U know guys kicking out the US AF will be a bad scene for MANY families at home, I worked on the military base there for 4 years, since almost the very beginning, and , ppl, it changed my life, I was able to earn a good amount of money and invest, my parents were helped out and my bros and sis also, it is not like buying a jacket as a gift to ur parents, that job CHANGED a lot in my life, gave me chanse to live a life i wanted, so, it will be way too sad to see US AF to get kicked out, salaries on base are not as good as they used to be, but still it is a good money for ppl, however, seeing military makes me sad too, a lot of them are ignorant and being in my country they can say some nasty things abt it, most of them dont see the beauty of it and these stories abt the major getting kidnapped by some Kyrgyz, what a BS, it all makes KG look bad in ppl's eyes, shooting drivers in the aport, it is al sad, there is never an easy way to chose what is best, but, the gov should think abt the least harmful out of the 2 choices

Janna wrote:

U know guys kicking out the US AF will be a bad scene for MANY families at home, I worked on the military base there for 4 years, since almost the very beginning, and , ppl, it changed my life, I was able to earn a good amount of money and invest, my parents were helped out and my bros and sis also, it is not like buying a jacket as a gift to ur parents, that job CHANGED a lot in my life, gave me chanse to live a life i wanted, so, it will be way too sad to see US AF to get kicked out, salaries on base are not as good as they used to be, but still it is a good money for ppl, however, seeing military makes me sad too, a lot of them are ignorant and being in my country they can say some nasty things abt it, most of them dont see the beauty of it and these stories abt the major getting kidnapped by some Kyrgyz, what a BS, it all makes KG look bad in ppl's eyes, shooting drivers in the aport, it is al sad, there is never an easy way to chose what is best, but, the gov should think abt the least harmful out of the 2 choices

Kyrgyzstan is one of the most beautiful countries in the world and I never met a Kyrgyz citizen that I did not like. I can't imagine anyone saying anything bad about Kyrgyzstan! But then again, there will always be some stupid people around.
I know exactly what you mean about military people being rude, uncaring, ignorant, and stupid. I have seen these things too. I can truthfully say that sometimes I have been ashamed of the behavior of some US soldiers. Not only in Kyrgyzstan but in other countries as well. Fortunately there are more good soldiers than bad ones. But the bad ones create lasting impressions. The good ones are not noticed as much.
I am so happy that you benefitted from the airport operations! Now you have freedom to pursue dreams. Go for it!

Azim, sorry I can't email you. Apparently Hotmail is not compatible with a .ru email address.
Here is a URL to a summary of a Brookings Institute meeting at which a number of US diplomats and international policy specialists discussed US policy regarding Cental Asia.
http://www.brookings.edu/comm/events/hill2002...
This meeting was held in November 2002 but the basic points regarding the US desire to promote regional stability remain current. The main areas addressed are regional security, economic development, and political development.
There are also many links from this page to various resources regarding US foreign policy that may be helpful to you.

Azim, also
http://www.brookings.edu/fp/projects/fsu/faq2...
and
http://www.registan.net/...
might be interesting
and here is a link to contact information for the US embassy in Bishkek. The embassy should be able to provide you with current US policy regarding Kyrgyzstan.
http://kyrgyz.usembassy.gov/contact2.html

Me-Me, I am married to a woman from Bishkek. We live in Florida, USA. I'd like to make a few observations.
First off, she told me there is an abundance of corruption there. So the Government doesn't care about its own people. They only care about their personal power and financial gains.
Second, many people from the Kyrgyz Republic go to Russia looking for a better life, much like Mexicans do here. When they arrive, they get beat up by young racists Russians. So Russians don't like Kyrgyz people either.
And finally, she told me that China is buying everything in the Kyrgyz Republic, and so she is afraid of losing her appartment there. I don't know how much of this is true, but it sure doesn't sound so bad to be on the side of the USA. At least we don't shut down the free press.