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| Russia Says U.S. might Use Kyrgyz Airbase in Iran Strike | |
| 2012-02-23 | |
Russia on Wednesday said it could not rule out that the United States would use the U.S. Manas airbase in ex-Soviet Kyrgyzstan for an eventual strike on Iran over its contested nuclear program.
Kyrgyzstan President Almazbek Atambayev in December said it was "very dangerous" for the state to host the U.S. Manas military airbase and has threatened the Americans with eviction when the current lease expires in 2014. The U.S. base, which is located at the airport in the capital Bishkek, is currently used as a key coalition hub for operations in nearby Afghanistan. Lukashevich said using the airbase as a launch-pad to strike Iran would require "changes or rather violations" to the lease agreement between Washington and Bishkek. "The statements from Washington which do not rule out a military solution to the Iranian nuclear crisis have caused serious worries in the Central Asian region," he said. "The worries are shared not just by Kyrgyzstan -- where a debate has erupted about the risk of a retaliatory strike from Iran -- but other Central Asian countries," he added. The United States and its chief regional ally Israel have never ruled out a military strike against Iran over its controversial nuclear program but Russia has always insisted the standoff can only be solved through diplomacy. Russia also has a military base in Kyrgyzstan and has long vied with Washington for influence in the country as Moscow seeks to preserve its ascendancy in the ex-Soviet region. | |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #2 IMO this is Russia's roundabout = PDeniable way of thraetening to close down the NDN of supply routes into Afghanistan. Ala the "Japan/Egypt Model", as long as Iran technically or officially maintains no NucWEaps of any sort, IMO Russia believes there will be no war on Iran as the US-NATO, Israel will lack a premise for one before the UNSC where Russia has veto power. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2012-02-23 23:20 |
| #1 Umm... maybe we'll use an flippin aircraft carrier (hint - like the ones we used in WWII) or just fly a B-2 round-trip from CONUS. A little less apocalyptic don't ya think? |
| Posted by: Bangkok Billy 2012-02-23 04:58 |