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==It finally became clear yesterday that Moscow supports Karimov's actions in Andijan. At a meeting with Karimov, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Ivanov, spoke even more emphatically about “foreign hands”. “There are clear outward signs of this. This allowed us to take an objective stands on the events in Andijan.” Karimov at once seized on Ivanov's thoughts and began to thank him. “There are few countries that have shown objectivity when assessing the situation in Andijan. Only President Vladimir Putin, and you, Sergey Borisovich, and Foreign Minister Lavrov have given a true evaluation of the events, and we will take it to our people.”

Unfortunately, no one in America is going to care. Most people don't even know where the country is located, and most conservatives will be inclined to look the other way because the demonstrators have been labeled "Islamic extremists." The US and European Left is of course handcuffed because Karimov has declared, apparently with the full approval (if not the prompting) of V. Putin, that the entire demonstration was staged by the USA (code for CIA). Result: Neither Left or Right will do much of anything.

Why was Karimov's speech so important (according to the article)? Something about the need to form a "Russia – Uzbekistan – China triangle". Now that's something I'd like to learn more about, and why would the speech be such an important prerequisite to forming said alliance? I ponder these these things.