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A gain for Washington, an embarrassment for Moscow (Kyrgyzstan & Bush's global drive for freedom)
The Guardian via SMH ^ | March 26, 2005 | Ian Traynor

Posted on 03/25/2005 7:03:55 AM PST by dead

The revolutions rolling through Russia's backyard shifted from the borders of the European Union to the Chinese frontier as Kyrgyzstan fell to the daffodil-clutching opponents of the former communist apparatchik and St Petersburg physicist Askar Akayev, whose early promise degenerated into nepotism, sleaze, rigged elections and the jailing of rivals

The daffodils of Bishkek suggested a springtime of hope in the dictatorial "stans" of Central Asia. But the Kyrgyz capital was so suffused with menace and volatility that its uprising could quickly turn ugly, setting it apart from the recent Ukrainian and Georgian revolutions, which were characterised by determined and determinedly peaceful civil resistance to the shenanigans of the incumbents.

Kyrgyz boys gesture during opposition rally in Bishkek.
Photo: Reuters

The conflict is partly clan-based and between regions, not solely between democrats and despots. Organised crime is said to be fomenting trouble.

But with luck the momentum of people power will usher in a period of fairer and cleaner government that will ring alarm bells in the neighbouring post-Soviet dictatorships.

International mediation may be necessary if things are not to turn bloody. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe volunteered itself for that important role on Thursday.

Azimbek Beknazarov, one of the main Kyrgyz opposition leaders, is carried by
supporters as people celebrate after storming government headquarters.
Photo: AP

After the rigged elections three weeks ago that triggered the revolt, the US warned Akayev not to try to entrench himself in power by fiddling the constitution before his second term expired in October. The signs were that he was doing just that, or preparing a dynastic succession by engineering parliamentary seats for a son and daughter.

Now, with Akayev and his family fleeing the country, the result will be hailed as another gain in the global march of freedom that the Bush White House has proclaimed as its second-term mission.

In Russia, the White House's gain will certainly be taken as the Kremlin's loss.

In Kyrgyzstan the Kremlin has not committed the blunders and experienced the humiliation it did in Ukraine. Nonetheless, the turn of events in Bishkek demonstrates Vladimir Putin's weakness. He has managed to manoeuvre himself into the unenviable position of being identified as a not very effective supporter and protector of unsavoury regimes throughout the post-Soviet space.

A Kyrgyz boy attends an opposition rally in Bishkek.
Photo: AFP


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: kyrgyzstan; uprising; vladnotagaindmnxt
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1 posted on 03/25/2005 7:03:55 AM PST by dead
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To: dead

The Bush Effect.


2 posted on 03/25/2005 7:07:44 AM PST by pissant
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To: dead

So did Jimmuh Cahtah give this his blessing?


3 posted on 03/25/2005 7:10:14 AM PST by libs_kma (USA: The land of the Free....Because of the Brave!)
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To: libs_kma
Presidents Reagan and Bush have done so much for Freedom in the World.

Geeez, by comparison, Catah and klintoon didn't do so much (good anyway) did they?

4 posted on 03/25/2005 7:13:12 AM PST by libs_kma (USA: The land of the Free....Because of the Brave!)
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To: dead; rmlew

I wonder if this might happen in Belarus.


5 posted on 03/25/2005 7:14:45 AM PST by Paleo Conservative (Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho! Andrew Heyward's got to go!)
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To: dead

Freedom is on the march!


6 posted on 03/25/2005 7:14:54 AM PST by Reader of news
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To: dead

Amazing the chain of events set forth by his moving Inaugural speech and State of the Union address.

...not that it will be acknowledged by the MSM or the Dems.


7 posted on 03/25/2005 7:16:03 AM PST by Reform4Bush
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To: libs_kma

Afghanistan,
Iraq,
Lebanon,
Kyrgyzstan,
Ukraine

Progress In:
Egypt
Saudi Arabia
Libya


Even Florida!
(couldnt resist)


8 posted on 03/25/2005 7:16:36 AM PST by El_Doctor ( Éireann go Brách)
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To: El_Doctor

Because of President Bush's leadership and strategy.


9 posted on 03/25/2005 7:17:46 AM PST by Reader of news
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To: Dubya's fan

10 posted on 03/25/2005 7:19:37 AM PST by dead (I've got my eye out for Mullah Omar.)
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To: dead

Keep the Europeans away and they'll do just fine.


11 posted on 03/25/2005 7:23:31 AM PST by thoughtomator (Terri Schiavo, murdered by court order. Who's next? Maybe you!)
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To: dead

BTW, most people in Kyrgyzstan are Muslims. Didn't they say President Bush was wrong because he believed Muslims also wanted to be free?


12 posted on 03/25/2005 7:24:09 AM PST by Reader of news
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To: Dubya's fan; All

It can be.. Muslisms don't want freedom.. They can't handle freedom...


13 posted on 03/25/2005 7:25:45 AM PST by KevinDavis (Let the meek inherit the Earth, the rest of us will explore the stars!)
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To: dead

good job with the posting.


14 posted on 03/25/2005 7:26:15 AM PST by scab4faa (http://www.compfused.com/directlink/703/)
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To: dead
Putie, this is for you and your thugs!


15 posted on 03/25/2005 7:34:54 AM PST by Grampa Dave (The MSM has been a WMD, Weapon of Mass Disinformation for the Rats for at least 4 decades.)
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To: dead

16 posted on 03/25/2005 7:36:31 AM PST by Grampa Dave (The MSM has been a WMD, Weapon of Mass Disinformation for the Rats for at least 4 decades.)
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To: Grampa Dave

Vladmir Putin December 2005: DAMxIT!
Putin January 2005: SHxT
Febuary 2005: WHAT THE FxCK!
March 2005: STALIN! THIS WASNT PART OF THE PLAN!!


17 posted on 03/25/2005 7:40:21 AM PST by El_Doctor ( Éireann go Brách)
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To: El_Doctor

Putie is finding out the hard way of the Bush effect on his back stabbers.


18 posted on 03/25/2005 7:54:49 AM PST by Grampa Dave (The MSM has been a WMD, Weapon of Mass Disinformation for the Rats for at least 4 decades.)
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To: Dubya's fan
Freedom is on the march!

and the poor riot police are forced to confront good-lookin' women who hand them flowers:

"Protest Babes"

Talk about your hazardous duty!

19 posted on 03/25/2005 9:09:13 AM PST by macbee ("Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake." - Napoleon Bonaparte)
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To: Paleo Conservative
"I wonder if this might happen in Belarus."
From your lips and to God's ears...
20 posted on 03/25/2005 11:18:02 AM PST by GSlob
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