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Afghanistan
Kyrgyzstan parliament votes to close key U.S. air base
2009-02-19
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan (AP) -- Kyrgyzstan's parliament voted Thursday to close a key U.S. air base in the country -- a move that could hamper President Barack Obama's efforts to increase the number of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Deputies voted 78-1 for the government-backed bill to cancel the lease agreement on the Manas air base, a transit point for 15,000 troops and 500 tons of cargo each month to and from Afghanistan. Two deputies abstained.

If President Kurmanbek Bakiyev signs the bill and Kyrgyz authorities issue an eviction notice, the United States will have 180 days to vacate the base.
Toodles. See ya. And kiss your foreign aid goodbye. And your access to the World Bank ...
"The decision to shut the American base reflects the will of the Kyrgyz people," said Nurbyubyu Kerimova, a deputy with the pro-government party that overwhelmingly dominates parliament in the former Soviet bloc nation.

Bakiyev unexpectedly called this month for the closure of Manas, complaining that the United States was not paying enough rent for the base.
Posted by:Icerigger

#8  I hope that we don't end up losing a lot of troops there. This has been cited before.
Posted by: SR-71   2009-02-19 18:51  

#7  I just HOPE we all live through Obamba's term so we can undo his changes later.
Posted by: Ho Chi Ebbert7691   2009-02-19 17:22  

#6  Change!
Posted by: William Marcy Tweed   2009-02-19 16:27  

#5  India has an air transit pass through directly to Afghanistan. Of course, it goes through Kashmir.
Posted by: Hupise Brown8031   2009-02-19 16:26  

#4  I get huffy over it as with no air support and a rickety supply line through Khyber, the troops cannot be there without at least one steady supply line AND airbase.
Posted by: newc   2009-02-19 12:10  

#3  I saw a figure of a payment from Russia of $2 billion (US dollars, not rubbles or euro). And prolly a marker to be played later.
Posted by: Seafarious   2009-02-19 11:25  

#2  More like money versus pressure. The pressure of an expanding Swiss bank account.
Posted by: Jack is Back!   2009-02-19 10:32  

#1  Pressure from the Russians and their allies Iran?
Posted by: Paul2   2009-02-19 09:32  

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