Will the overthrow of the government of Kyrgyzstan, by dissenters in the streets, have a domino effect on the Afghanistan war?The U.S. base in Kyrgyzstan is used in the Afghanistan war, and some think there is reason for concern, but most foreign policy experts seem to think the nation will stay pro U.S. because of the money we spend there:
U.S. rent on the Manas base, which was hiked last July from $17.1 million a year to $60 million, plus an additional $117 million for economic development, upgrading the airport, and fighting drug trafficking in the country, makes up a significant chunk of the nation's income. And it's unlikely that the incoming opposition leaders, who include former foreign minister Roza Otunbayeva and veteran activist Temir Sariyev, will take an anti-U.S. stance. Indeed the U.S. Embassy criticized the imprisonment of Sariyev and his supporters over the last year, and the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Kyrgyz service remains the most trusted source of news for most Kyrgyz people ...(Newsweek, italics added). One of the more interesting parts of the story is how the people are able to remove despots.
It gives new meaning to "tea party" I suppose.
All will likely be well and good until the coming devaluation and/or dethroning of the US dollar as the world's reserve currency takes place. I'm betting that most of these little tin pot fiefdom's that we've bought off over the years won't be nearly so receptive to our presence after that. I'll be quite interested to hear all the so-called "experts'" elaborate explanations for the unfolding of the new world order when it comes. There's bound to be some doozies. Keep an eye on political events unfolding in the third world, as they're likely a very good predictor of our own near term future as well.
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ReplyDeleteOne wonders if bases in all these places, along with the weaponry, will be "sold cheap" instead of returning them to the states?
Good point. I would count on it.
ReplyDeleteThe military in that nation does not seem to interfere with domestic politics.
ReplyDeleteOur military would not allow that to happen here.