What Does The Revolution In Kyrgyzstan Mean For The U.S.

Kyrgyzstan Protests: What It Means For US Role In Afghanistan War? -- Christian Science Monitor

The Kyrgyzstan protests, in which government forces killed at least 17 rioters who tried to storm President Kurmanbek Bakiyev's office and other locations, highlights US reliance on a key air base supplying troops in Afghanistan war.

Protesters angry at rising prices, a crumbling economy, and the authoritarian leadership of President Kurmanbek Bakiyev took to the streets of Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan's capital, on Wednesday and tried to storm the presidential office and a number of other government installations.

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Update #1: Kyrgyzstan: Coup in a U.S.-Allied Country? -- ABC News

Update #2: Around the Web: Kyrgyzstan and the U.S. effort in Afghanistan -- CNN

Update #3: U.S. base in Kyrgyzstan at risk (again) -- Foreign Policy

My Comment: The Russians are taking no chances, they have put their bases in Kyrgyzstan on high alert. Others are now speculating that if Moscow was behind this revolution, their goal must be to have a sympathetic government in place to kick the Americans out at the Manas base out .... hmmm .... I am not too sure about this.

Kyrgyzstan is a corrupt and backward country that never got rid of the yolk of the old communist mentality of the Soviet Union. This uprising was long in the making .... and it had to happen one day .... that day was today. The Russians are probably just as surprised as everyone else that this revolution is now being played out. They have always worked hard for stability in this part of Central Asia, a situation that hardly exists in the region right now.

For the U.S., they are now in a precarious and difficult situation. The new government .... if it is able to consolidate power .... will not take too kindly to allies of the old regime. If this becomes the case, both Russia and the U.S. may find themselves being asked to make new accommodations and agreements with the new government .... accommodations that may become very expensive and a headache for both countries to agree to.

On a side note, there is China at the border. News coverage has focused on Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and the U.S., but China is on the border of Kyrgyzstan, and I am sure they are watching the situation very closely.