Posted on 04/09/2010 10:53:06 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The US military has suspended troop flights out of its base in Kyrgyzstan and will instead transport forces to and from Afghanistan via Kuwait, military officials said Friday.
Amid political upheaval in the strategic Central Asian nation, US commanders at the Manas air base decided late Friday "to temporarily divert military passenger transport flights," Major John Redfield, a spokesman for US Central Command, said in an email.
Decisions on continuing other military flights "will be made on a case-by-case basis," he said.
The suspension came after the Americans spotted armored vehicles on the civilian side of the airport, a defense official told AFP.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said details were still unclear and there was no sign of tensions with the civilian authorities at Manas, a crucial hub for the NATO-led war in Afghanistan.
The suspension of troop flights -- which were diverted to a US base in Kuwait -- would remain in effect for at least 72 hours, the official said, but aerial tanker aircraft were continuing to use the runway.
Kyrgyzstan's interim leader Friday offered president Kurmanbek Bakiyev safe passage out of the country, but only if he first resigns.
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
This is a muslim country so it is a matter of degree.
I agree. I cannot tell either.
Kyrgystan has about $14 million in the bank. The previous government looted the treasury.
The USA doubled the rent it was paying for their air base to about $40 million/yr.
The Rooskies immediately recognized the new government and has agreed to loan it $2 billion.
yitbos
Hussein bin Obama al-Kenyata just met with Medvedev for the unilateral disarmament pact, eh? He told Medvedev he didn't want to embargo Iran gasoline because it might affect the general, innocent population and maybe even cause regime change.
Think they didn't talk about former SSR re-absorption?
Comrades all.
yitbos
I am pretty sure that conversation came up.
~ ~ ~
Russia stands to reap benefits of Kyrgyz unrest
By YURAS KARMANAU and ANGELA CHARLTON , 04.09.10
Excerpt:
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan -- Russia has cast a long shadow in Central Asia, and it's shaping up as a big winner after the deadly uprising in Kyrgyzstan, the only nation in the world where both the U.S. and Russia have military bases.
Although few concrete signs have emerged of a direct Russian role in the revolt, the caretaker leader isn't hiding her appreciation of Moscow.
Russia was the first to recognize Roza Otunbayeva's interim leadership, and she told The Associated Press on Friday that her top deputy was holding talks in Moscow on Russian government aid. Another deputy suggested Russia could send in peacekeepers if violence reignites.
~ ~ ~
Russian bombers conduct another Pacific patrol mission
"Two Tu-95MS strategic bombers took off from Ukrainka Airbase on April 8 and carried out patrols over neutral waters in the Pacific Ocean and near the Aleutian Islands,"
~~~~~~~~
And here we are, with vital petroleum reserves beyond huge in Alaska, which we're not allowed to touch because of tree huggers, caribou crazies, and the cretins in power, and Russia's freelancing and roaming right in our backyard off Bristol Bay.
Don’t forget, they want to be the only big dog in town.
Hm all those big parks no one ever goes to hehe.
What a moron. wouldn't this be good?
My son is stranded there, waiting to come home. Sure hope they get this settled soon so he can get out of there! He should have been home by now.
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