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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Russia Rejects Bullying Accusations Voiced by U.S. Top Military |
| 2005-07-17 |
| Russian officials have rejected accusations by the top U.S. military officer that it, along with China, was trying to bully smaller Central Asian nations out of hosting U.S. troops fighting terrorism. "We have been bewildered by the comments" of Gen. Richard B. Myers, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a Foreign Ministry statement posted on its official web-site said. "As is well-known, all decisions made within the framework of the SCO (the Shanghai Cooperation Organization) are consensus-based and reflect the collective opinion of all the member-countries," the ministry said. The Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional alliance led by China and Russia, last week called on the U.S. to set a date for withdrawing forces from bases in the former Soviet republics of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. Asked by a reporter what he thought of the SCO’s statement, Myers said: "Looks to me like two very large countries were trying to bully some smaller countries." U.S. forces have used a base in each of the two countries since the early days of the war in Afghanistan. Both governments recently questioned the need for continued U.S. access, Associated Press points out. Uzbekistan has imposed new limits on U.S. use of its Karshi-Khanabad air base, after Washington criticized Uzbekistan’s bloody crackdown on anti-government rioting in May that killed around 200 people according to the official toll though human rights activists say up to 750 died. The Russian Foreign Ministry said it wanted to see non-regional forces pull out from Central Asia once the task of combatting the threat of terrorism in Afghanistan was completed. "As this task is carried out, this military presence should be withdrawn from the region," the ministry said. "Fat, f*ing chance", replied General Myes. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #9 BTW - I usually laugh at conspiracy theories because they fail one or more of the following: 1) The Bullshit Test - Does it just stink to high heaven? Is it likely from any known intelligent POV? 2) The Probability of Success Test - Could the parties involved find their own asses with both hands and an industrial strength flashlight? Are they likely capable of the acts? 3) The Follow the Money Test - Who really benefits? A former KGB cabal passes all of the above, IMO, while most crap floated by various interests doesn't. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-07-17 16:08 |
| #8 Who? If I understand you correctly, then perhaps this will suffice as an answer... I don't have a bunch of links at my fingertips for this, unfortunately, but we used to have a regular around the 'burg posting as "lex". He regularly commented that Putputz was a puppet. The power(s) controlling him? A vague thing, indeed, but clearly other KGB and the new "Mafia" types. lex's wife is a Russian, so I presume there was something behind his quite literate posts on Russia. I recall that Putputz wasn't that high-ranking in the KGB and a case could probably be made rather easily that he was the "face" that he and his cohorts put forward. It's not hard to imagine a bunch of KGB types, watching events unfold, realizing that they could take over if they played their cards right, and crafting a plan to do so. If you don't buy it, okay by me. It makes as much sense as anything about Russia since the fall of the Soviet, I think. It's not like the KGB types who were left high and dry after the fall wouldn't be able to pull it off or disguise the nature and participants in the game. They were who they were and had all the means. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-07-17 15:29 |
| #7 .com: 'Puppet' - could one get to his former KGB status as a puppet? Of whom, or what group? 'Power whore' - yep. And like any whore, will 'work' for the highest bidder - or the strongest pimp. My guess is he will recognize he has a better chance of negotiating power and legacy with the west than with the Islamofascists. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2005-07-17 15:10 |
| #6 Not by me, Glenmore - credit where due: he saw the writing on the wall and didn't just talk about what to do, he acted. The man had the stones to do something. The reasons behind why he and the future of the Russian people were both swallowed whole are manyfold. Certainly, I think, they lacked 2 crucial elements: any avenue whereby an honest leader with a new vision could emerge and enough people in power positions with any integrity. Communism doesn't reward either, so they had been thoroughly bred out of the power hierarchy long before Gorby's epiphany. I disagree about Putputz, however, he is either a puppet or yet another power whore -- or both, IMHO. "Squandered" is the word that comes to my mind looking back over the time since Gorby and the day Yeltsin stood atop the tank. Sad. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-07-17 15:02 |
| #5 Hang me as a leftie, but I think Gorbochev was actually their best chance. I think gradual change, which he had started, MIGHT have been able to expand freedom without transferring power entirely to a Russian mafia. That's in the past. Sad to say, now their best chance may actually be Putin. For the forseeable future Russia faces at least as great an Islamofascist threat as we do, and will require ruthless and pragmatic leadership. I think that does describe Putin. Don't trust him, but as they say - the enemy of my enemy is my 'friend', and I suspect pragmatic Putin recognizes Islamofascism as a greater enemy than is the US. |
| Posted by: Glenmore 2005-07-17 14:47 |
| #4 So true, Pappy. With Putputz and his ex-KGB (et al) Mafia Boyz in charge, Russia has grabbed itself by the throat and extinguished its golden opportunity, while the populace gorges itself on faux freedoms and childish idol worship. Opportunities lost. No George W was available, methinks. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-07-17 12:01 |
| #3 The Cold War isn't over. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2005-07-17 11:11 |
| #2 Russia sounds like it is getting nervous about its southern flank getting surrounded by the U.S. |
| Posted by: mmurray821 2005-07-17 10:09 |
| #1 We can pull out just in time for the invading Russian forces. They have been waiting on us to leave, we should be more conciderate. |
| Posted by: 49 pan 2005-07-17 09:09 |