U.S. Pentagon Chief Presses Kyrgyzstan For Continued Use Of Manas Air Base

EN ROUTE TO KYRGYZSTAN
U.S. Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta answers questions during a press availability onboard an Air Force E-4B National Airborne Operations Center en route to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, March 12, 2012. DOD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Chad J. McNeeley

Kyrgyzstan Wants Military Role to End at U.S. Base -- New York Times

BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan — One of Kyrgyzstan’s top defense officials told Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta on Tuesday that a crucial United States air base here should have “no military mission” when its lease expires a little more than two years from now. The request creates a potential hurdle to American plans to withdraw from Afghanistan in 2014.

The base, officially called a transit center, is at the Manas airport close to the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, and has been a vital hub for troops and matériel moving in and out of Afghanistan. It is the only such base that American forces have in Central Asia.

Read more ....

More News On U.S. Attempts To Keep A Base In Kyrgyzstan

U.S. Seeks to Extend Base Lease -- Wall Street Journal
Panetta seeks to shore up support in Kyrgyzstan for use of base critical to Afghan withdrawal -- Washington Post/AP
Panetta in Kyrgyzstan to seek continued use of air base -- Washington Post
On Visit To Kyrgyzstan, Panetta Presses For Continued Use Of Manas -- Radio Free Europe
Panetta Hears Kyrgyzstan Open to Talks on Extending Base Deal -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Panetta sounds out Kyrgyzstan on key US base -- International News
US pushes to use Kyrgyztan base after 2014 -- Daily Times
Kyrgyzstan rules out US military using base after 2014 -- International News