Democracy is a Bitch



Democracy is a Bitch.

The pro-Russian candidate for President of Kyrzgyzstan won 63% of the vote.  Rumors swirling around the capital Bishkek said that Russia supported Atambayev's election campaign  (Photo: REUTERS)


Election winner to USA:  'Pack up your military and get the Hell out of my country.'


Almazbek Atambayev, Kyrzgyzstan's new president-elect, in virtually his first act since being elected, has told the US it will have to give up its airbase in Central Asia by 2014.  The action seriously impacts the ability of the United States to supply the war in Afghanistan.

The news will heighten concern in the West that Almazbek Atambayev's election victory means Kyrgyzstan will drift further under the Kremlin's patronage.

Although the fee that the US pays Kyrgyzstan for the lease of the airbase is one of the former Soviet state's main incomes, Atambayev said that the chance of a revenge attack by one of the US's enemies was a risk he did not want to take, reports the UK Telegraph.

"We know that the United States is often engaged in conflict. First in Iraq, then in Afghanistan, and now relations are tense with Iran," he said.

"I would not want for one of these countries to launch a retaliatory strike on the military base."

The US airbase in Kyrgyzstan has always been controversial. Locals have complained about alleged environmental damage and politicians have said in the past that it should close but Atambayev's statement is the most explicit.

America Loses Central Asia Base
Afghanistan is very isolated.  Unlike bureaucrats in Washington, many Americans with common sense knew there were huge dangers in supply lines thousands of miles long going deep in a hostile Central Asia. 



To the irritation of Russia, the US has leased the airbase for a decade to support Nato operations in Afghanistan. The Kremlin considers Central Asia part of its special sphere of influence.

Most Kyrgyz consider Russia a key ally and Mr Atambayev was careful to stress his pro-Russia credentials during the recent election campaign. This tactic appears to have paid off as he won 63 per cent in the election on Sunday, a far bigger proportion of the vote than analysts had expected.

Loss of Manas impacts US war effort in Afghanistan

Manas airfield is a key transit hub for the Afghanistan war. But given the weakness of other supply routes, the loss would deal a major blow.

Manas became more crucial after Uzbekistan closed a similar base to the US military in 2005. NATO shifted the operations from Uzbekistan – refueling, moving troops and ammunition – to the Afghan airbase at Bagram.

A Manas shutdown would further strain the re-supplying of troops in Afghanistan. Security is also more of an issue at Bagram than at a base located outside the warzone.

Few other air bases in the region can handle the massive, long-haul planes that the former Soviet base of Manas can accommodate

The closure of Manas would be a big blow. That is why Gen. Petraeus and Gen. McChrystal and others have invested a lot in trying to persuade Bakiyev the former president not to close the base.  (Christian Science Monitor)

US military aircraft line up at the Manas US military base in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to supply
the US war effort in Afghanistan.

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