Russia Accuses Kyrgystan Of Treachery Over US Military Base

From The Telegraph:

Russia accused Kyrgyzstan of treachery on Wednesday after the central Asian state revoked a Kremlin-backed order to close down a US military base considered vital for the war effort in Afghanistan.

Escalating a row that could sour President Barack Obama's inaugural visit to Moscow next month, the Russian foreign ministry said it had been double-crossed after the Kyrgyz government halted the eviction of American forces from the Manas Air base.

Hailed as a foreign policy victory by the Obama administration, the decision was seen in Moscow as a rare reversal in the Kremlin's campaign to regain dominance over the five former Soviet states in central Asia.

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My Comment: When this dispute started to play itself out at the beginning of this year, I remarked that it would be best for the Americans to lay low and negotiate patiently with the Kyrgyzstan Government.

The Manas Air Base lease was being used as a lever by the Kyrgyzstan Government to exact concessions from both the Russian and U.S. Government, and that it would serve no purpose to panic and agree to their terms ASAP. Fortunately for the U.S., it was the Russians who blinked first and agreed to some of the most outrageous conditions (in my opinion) to provide aid to this Central Asian Government. Once the money was in their pockets .... a more amenable agreement with the Americans could (and now has) been worked out.

It was never in the interest for the Kyrgyzstan Government to boot the Americans out. The base pumps almost $150 million a year into the local economy, employs hundreds if not thousands of jobs, and ..... more importantly .... it helps them show to the Russians that they are independent and that they do not need them for any assistance.

Are the Russians pissed .... they should be. They are now locked into an agreement that is financially not on their terms. They have been exposed as saying one thing in the fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan .... and another with this fiasco. And more importantly .... they have now lost face to all of the other former Soviet Republics in the region.