Monday, July 11, 2005
Kyrgyzstan's New Plight... Russia and China
It seems that yesterday's democratic elections in Kyrgyzstan were a success for acting Kyrgyz leader Kurmanbek Bakiev, scoring a landslide victory in the poll, winning 89% of the votes. The Kyrgyz people have rightfully earned this opportunity, risking everything to get to this point. I congratulate them on their successes.
On the surface, this election and it's outcome seem fine, but Bakiev's very first news conference as the elected President was very troubling. Instead of praising his people, the international election observers, and his nation, Bakiev immediately questioned the need for the U.S. air base in his country.
Manas, or 'Ganci' Air Base as we called it when I was deployed there, is located outside of the capital city of Bishkek. This base is a supply and refueling point for U.S. air and land forces further south in Afghanistan. Whereas it is not totally vital to the ongoing operations down south, the fact that we have any foothold in this region, small as it may be, is extremely important for the Global War on Terror. Our very presence earlier this year helped to add confidence to the citizens eager to remove their corrupt government. They overthrew former President Akayev because the U.S. gave them the examples of Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Lebanon, and many others that showed them we would stand by their attempts at creating a fair democracy in their country.
Now that they've taken their first few steps down the road to real democratic representation, economic opportunity, and equality, Bakiev wants to remove the U.S. presence that helped him get to where he is. His comments illustrate his misunderstanding of the reality his nation faces. He is towing the line of Russia and China who are admittedly against any U.S. influence in the region. As the BBC noted, "Mr Bakiev's comments echoed a recent call by the Central Asian grouping known as the Shanghai Co-operation Organization (SCO), which said the US should set a date for the withdrawal of its bases in both Kyrgyzstan and neighboring Uzbekistan." The SCO was organized, funded, and powered by China. Russia, also weary of our troops near Bishkek set up Kant, their first post-Soviet 'overseas' air base, just miles from the U.S. base. Bakiev obviously feels that his allegiance is with Russia and China, and after yesterday's election he now has the legal ability to do their bidding.
The United States has been on a roll in terms of spreading the Bush Administration's revolutionary concept of spreading Democracy to help combat terrorism, and losing a foothold in Kyrgyzstan would be a small yet important setback for that cause. If Afghanistan continues down its current path, it will be a glowing success for the West and a vital port that will help us export our influence into the region. If China and Russia monopolize on Kyrgyzstan, then our influence will stop at Afghanistan's northern borders. Tajikistan and Uzbekistan are currently too far into China and Russia's sphere of influence to change any time soon, which makes Kyrgyzstan all the more important to our efforts.
Kyrgyzstan represents a major trade route for legal and illegal goods, and is an equal to Afghanistan's importance in the Global War on Terror. We need to start making counter-offers to Russia and China's handouts, and we need to rapidly rebuild the Kyrgyz infrastructure that hasn't changed much after the fall of the Soviet Union. If we can turn the tide of influence in Kyrgyzstan, then Afghanistan will have a solid partner in its path to modernization and stability. It will also help us continue our successful fight to eradicate the roots of terrorism throughout Central Asia... poverty, oppression, and instability.
Don't let China and Russia swallow Kyrgyzstan. It's people deserve better.
posted by El Capitan at 2:50 PM
11 Comments:
said...
Those examples were kinda part of this big plan we had when we liberated AfghaniSTAN. The coups went fine, but there was a little too much emphasis on the leaders and stuff.
For a similar type of example: The murder of the Lebanese Prime Minister was actually a trade for a shipping magnate who was Finance Minister of Canada, a trainee with Kofi at the UN, and now Prime Minister of the most corrupt party in existence. Liberals can put up with alot, but the income(GDP) tax Martin, NOT BLAIR!, cooked up for Africa may have been too much for the terrorists(Boston Tea Party and all that). Taxation without representation and ten years of getting even for throwing him out-not that taxes go away after they are put in place.
So, alot like the Stans, we have been trading. As far as the murders, death, and terror and stuff Canadians have explained, repeatedly, that we cannot suffer this psychologically. Period.
So, we are constantly reminded that we are on a list with Italy and its just us two left. Well, throw out world leaders and you just get into trouble(see why they blew up Blair instead of Martin), so when we do end up paying for Martin's foreign predilictions and forays, I think I'll just say we knew this better than the plan for the Stans.
As far as the base, well, its time to pay for being so nasty to the leaders we had thrown out.
El Capitan said...
Okay now, the moonbat stuff is starting to get on my nerves. Let me break it down for you in small words so you can follow:
- Bush is not Hitler
- Bush is not Satan
- There is no UN conspiracy. (They can't even organize relief efforts and building renovations, let alone a coupe of the world)
- Blair is not Chamberlain. He knows a threat when he sees one.
- Michael Moore is not God.
- Most important; innocent people do not deserve to die from terrorist acts just because they were born in the West, Middle East, Asia, Africa, etc. I know it's easy to simplify your ideas through conspiracy theories, but reality is much more simple to understand. There is good and there is evil.
Which side do you stand with?
Oh, and my diatribe about Kyrgyzstan was to express a simple idea of helping those who need it... nothing else.
So go home and relax, take your meds, and sleep on it.
said...
You GO, El Capitan! I agree - Evil people do Evil things! It's as simple as that & I can't understand why the moonbats don't get it.
10:45 PM said...
It must make your life simple to follow blindly. To think the government makes the ordinary citizen privy to the what is really going on whatever it may be..is not only stupid but irresponsible. And no matter what position you may hold in the military...you are still an ordinary citizen that is fed whatever the top government officials want to feed you. But I guess if you acknowledge this your choosing in life would become a joke. And please don't comment on how I or others don't have any clue...My family has been in the military for years and I have lost a brother in the Iraq war...It's like thinking the government would let citizens know if there was a huge asteroid heading toward earth that would obliterate millions...do you really think they would give you or anybody else a heads up? Probably not...unless you are a top official in the government you are just another brainwashed lemming..and that is what they are counting on..
Peace
said...
You make many assumptions Toni...I actually consider myself a conservative and always have...I never said el capitain was a typical stupid troop..I said it is stupid and irresponsible not to at least question what is being fed to you by the government..and this applies whether you are a liberal or conservative. And I never once mentioned a Bush/Hitler conspiracy, so please refrain from putting words in my mouth.(I am not the other anonymous who posted earlier) And as for my brother..do not disrespect his memory...for he gave everything for his country...which to answer your question is the good ole' USA...I guess it is a waste of time to convince others that they maybe don't know all there is to know. That was all I was trying to say...think for yourself and question everything...
But Peace Out Anyways....
El Capitan said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
3:25 PM El Capitan said...
Toni,
Thanks for the good word. As always, you're a classy lady.
Anonymous,
I do take the time to research and understand complex national security related issues because it's what keeps me from going insane. I'm not a numbskull who turns on the Nightly News and listens to the slanted and biased propaganda they spew out. I'm the guy who listens to that stuff and laughs hysterically at the fact that those reporters who make millions don't know what they're talking about. I'm the guy who investigates before I make comments or decisions on what's going on in the world.
For anyone to say that everything in this world is at the mercy of some grand evil conspiracy, whether you're on the Right or Left, you're wrong.
Once again, I am a realist... or a firm believer in Occam's Razor, which states that one should make no more assumptions than needed. Put into everyday language, it says 'The simplest explanation is the best.' Time after time throughout history this principle has been proven correct.
Once again, this is a war of Civilizations... a war of Good vs. Evil. I am aware that not all on the side of Good are truly good, just as I admit that not all on the other side are truly evil, but when it comes down to it I know it's as simple as that.
Any thoughts of a grand conspiracy are simply a distraction from reality. If you truly believe in such a conspiracy, please back it up with real facts and not hyperbole. Make an argument, and stop arguing.
FYI, facts are pieces of information that can be corroborated. They're not quotes from other more educated conspiracy theorists.
Please prove me wrong.
said...
With all do respect..once again you have thrown out the conspiracy theory idea..In simple terms (and so nobody else puts words in my mouth)I'm saying the reality of it is...you can read every book and listen to everything in the media..but common sense has to tell you that you do not- and cannot- really know everything there is to know...Do you realize that everyone who posts an opinion that might just bring up a different point of view..instead of a productive discussion of ideas...they are outright dismissed as some crazed leftist that believes in a conspiracy...while those who agree with your opinion are complimented and patted on the back.
I am not trying to "prove you wrong" But according to all of your posts, you are obviously unwilling to step back for a second and think "maybe"...forgive me for causing any kind of ripple in this stream of conciousness..Outtie
God Bless
El Capitan said...
Anonymous,
Of course I don't know everything, and would never insinuate that I do. I just make sure I know what I'm talking about before I speak.
The conspiracy accusation comes from previous comments such as these:
- The murder of the Lebanese Prime Minister was actually a trade for a shipping magnate who was Finance Minister of Canada, a trainee with Kofi at the UN, and now Prime Minister of the most corrupt party in existence.
- ... were kinda part of this big plan we had when we liberated AfghaniSTAN. The coups went fine, but there was a little too much emphasis on the leaders and stuff.
- ...you are still an ordinary citizen that is fed whatever the top government officials want to feed you.
- ...unless you are a top official in the government you are just another brainwashed lemming..and that is what they are counting on.
Yes, I tend to get defensive when I see people write crazy stuff.
I want differing opinions, and I seek them out whenever possible. Maybe I'm just aiming too high. I was hoping that my original discussion on Kyrgyzstan's plight would be a catalyst for intelligent ideas on how to help the deserving citizens in that poor country. I didn't expect the "Kofi conspiracy" and "government brainwashing" comments.
said...
Okay...maybe if you listened again...I did not write about the murder of the Prime minister..nor did I mention anything about Afghanistan or the Kofi conspiracy...you are mistaking my comments for someone elses. I guess you weren't quite on clear on these sources...
Moving on...
El Capitan said...
I understood you the first time, but since you didn't have the brass to change your name to something other than Anonymous, I considered you the same person.
Move on... to something else.