Posted on 10/08/2005 4:25:26 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
SAINT PETERSBURG: Hardline Uzbek President Islam Karimov thanked President Vladimir Putin here on Friday for Russia’s support after troops crushed an uprising last spring in the eastern Uzbek city of Andijan in violence that drew international criticism.
“The problems experienced by Uzbekistan in connection with the events in Andijan showed very clearly who is who,” Karimov said as he met Putin at a gathering in the Russian leader’s hometown of Saint Petersburg, timed to coincide with his 53rd birthday.
“In this respect, Russia demonstrated its reliability... I am grateful for the support that we got then and that we are receiving now,” Karimov said. The Uzbek government says 187 people died in the violence that began with a mass prison break and culminated in troops firing in Andijan’s main square. Witnesses and human rights activists say those troops shot dead hundreds of people including unarmed civilians.
Russia never joined the calls for an investigation of the Andijan massacre. After hesitating for weeks, the United States eventually joined the calls led by Europe for the probe.
Shortly after that, Uzbekistan announced it was expelling the US from an airbase it set up in the Central Asian country after the September 11 attacks in the US.
Putin said he was ‘pleased’ to discuss economic and security cooperation with Karimov, and said Uzbekistan was on the ‘front lines’ of the international war on terrorism. Ahead of his departure for Saint Petersburg, Karimov warned Uzbeks on a television broadcast on Thursday about the dangers of globalisation in an apparent critique of the US.
“As new countries with rich mineral resources appear on the map of the world... and find their own development routes, this will annoy others who cannot tolerate such a course of events,” Karimov warned.
“We can see it in Iraq and Afghanistan” he said, adding that Uzbekistan was no exception and “events in Andijan might be the first indication of this.”
Of course Putin and his Red Chinese and muslim allies in the Shanghai Cooperation organization don't want their enemies the USA anywhere near the front lines in the war on terror.
Another bad move by the USA.
I agree with Putin.
This is no different than the USA slapping Israel's hand when Israel tries to defend itself from terrorists.
This is no different than the USA criticizing Russia for actions taken against Chechnyan terrorists.
Political correctness is killing the GOP domestically. Political correctness is killing the GOP internationally. Politcal correctness killed the USA's war against Iraq.
Only criminals fear inquiries into the truth.
Karimov warned Uzbeks on a television broadcast on Thursday about the dangers of globalisation in an apparent critique of the US.
Same old shell game. We can expect to see Uzbeks burning American flags any day now.
Unfortunately now many 3rd world dictators, who crush uprisings in their countries just say that the rebels were "terrorists" and that It was a part of WOT. For China and Russia even attack on Taiwan would be "anti terrorist" operation.
Unfortunately now many 3rd world dictators, who crush uprisings in their countries just say that the rebels were "terrorists" ==
Islamic uprisings against secular dictators in sake of Islamic Khaliphate won't be so good either. What is less evil?
Of course Putin and his Red Chinese and muslim allies in the Shanghai Cooperation organization don't want their enemies the USA anywhere near the front lines in the war on terror.==
Those "muslim allies" are not islamists at least. You prefer the islamists in power in Central Asia? It won't be good either.
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