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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| US & Kyrgyzstan agree on base: rent will triple |
| 2009-06-23 |
| I bet none of you could see that coming! The United States made a deal Tuesday allowing it to continue using a Central Asian air base that is crucial to the U.S. mission in Afghanistan, after agreeing to triple the rent it pays. The former Soviet republic of Kyrgyzstan in February had ordered the U.S. forces out, a decision some observers said may have been made under pressure from Russia, which is strongly opposed to a U.S. military presence so close to its borders. Russia also has a base in Kyrgyzstan. Under the new deal, the U.S. will pay $60 million in annual rent, up from the current $17.4 million for use of the Manas air base, which is an increasingly important operations hub. |
| Posted by:Frozen Al |
| #2 Cheaper than hauling fuel to Bagram. |
| Posted by: ed 2009-06-23 20:55 |
| #1 better than paying Pakland for passage |
| Posted by: Frank G 2009-06-23 20:03 |