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| Afghanistan |
| Russia allows transit of US military supplies |
| 2009-02-07 |
| Russia granted transit rights Friday to non-lethal U.S. military supplies headed to Afghanistan but only after apparently pressuring a former Soviet state to close an air base leased to the Americans. The signal from Moscow: Russia is willing to help on Afghanistan, but only on the Kremlin's terms. Kyrgyzstan announced the closure of the Manas air base but American officials suspect that Russia was behind the decision, having long been irritated by the U.S presence in central Asia. The Russian decision to let U.S. supplies cross its territory opened another route to those through Pakistan now threatened by militant attacks, but U.S. officials were still left scrambling for alternatives to Manas. Russia wants to open discussions on thorny policy issues that Washington and Moscow have clashed on in recent years _ NATO enlargement, missile defense in Europe, a new strategic arms control treaty. More importantly, Russia's expectation is that Washington must go through Moscow where Central Asia is concerned. Russia may also be showing Washington that its positions aren't immovable _ particularly where Afghanistan is concerned. Russia fears Afghanistan is collapsing into anarchy, leading to instability or Islamic radicals migrating northward through Central Asia. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Russia had agreed days earlier to allow transit of U.S. non-lethal supplies to Afghanistan. "We are now waiting for the American partners to provide a specific request with a quantity and description of cargo," Lavrov said Friday in remarks broadcast by Vesti-24 TV. "As soon as they do that we will issue relevant permissions." |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #7 Clinton considered issues of acts of war a bother to his domestic agenda. The Big O is picking up where Clinton left off. The US will appear weak, our enemies will take advantage of this to further their agenda. They will exploit weakness. They will slowly back us into a corner. They will infiltrate this country at an accelerating pace. The Big O will really mess something up that will cost this country thousands in casualties. Everyone will go apesh*t, the Big O's presidency will go down in flames, we will be bankrupt, and if we have enough stout hearts, we will rebuild this country from scratch. But we will have lost a great deal. A great deal. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2009-02-07 18:15 |
| #6 I don't think Obama gives a rats patootie for foreign issues except insofar as they might pose a problem for his intent to force a hard left revolution here under the guise of laws and regulations. That's why he was perfectly happy to have Clinton at State and Gates at DOD for now. |
| Posted by: lotp 2009-02-07 15:40 |
| #5 Russia wants to open discussions on thorny policy issues that Washington and Moscow have clashed on in recent years _ NATO enlargement, missile defense in Europe, a new strategic arms control treaty. More importantly, Russia's expectation is that Washington must go through Moscow where Central Asia is concerned. Is the price worth it Barak Obama? |
| Posted by: ed 2009-02-07 14:08 |
| #4 "to allow transit of U.S. non-lethal supplies to Afghanistan." Oh, food, medical supplies, new socks, but no ammo. No weapons. That's nice. That's real help. |
| Posted by: Woozle Elmeter 2700 2009-02-07 12:09 |
| #3 1. Get Kyrgyzstan to kick the US out 2. Offer alternative route 3. Squeeze 'nads as desired |
| Posted by: Jiggs Clating4287 2009-02-07 11:43 |
| #2 "We are now waiting for the American partners to provide a specific request with a quantity and description of cargo," Lavrov said Friday in remarks broadcast by Vesti-24 TV. "As soon as they do that we will issue relevant permissions." ....and fees. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2009-02-07 03:43 |
| #1 Agreed days ago? About the same time they came out and said Irans reactor will be operational this year? |
| Posted by: Mike N. 2009-02-07 02:00 |