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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia
US 'plans' for ex-soviets irk Russia
2008-12-17
A Russian military official has expressed alarm over alleged US plans to set up military bases in two ex-Soviet republics, reports say.
Sorta like their plans for Hugo-land and Cuba ...
Russia's chief of the General Staff, General Nikolai Makarov, accused Washington on Tuesday of planning to extend its foothold in Central Asia, Russian news agencies reported. "American military bases are dotted throughout the world,...The US has opened bases in Romania and Bulgaria, and according to our information plans to establish them in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan," Gen. Makarov was quoted.

Kazakhstan, world's ninth largest country, was the last country to declare its independence from the former Soviet Union. The country was the primary nuclear weapon testing site during the soviet era.

As tension intensifies between the Kremlin and White House, Moscow is showing less patience with the growing US military presence in the region.

The US-led invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 was followed by the occupation of Iraq in 2003. During the invasion of Afghanistan, the US Air Force was allowed flyovers by Kyrgyzstan, the region's sole US outpost.

With the announcement of 20,000 more troops set for deployment to the war-torn country, some analysts say seeking more bases in neighboring states would be inevitable.

Gen. Makarov also stressed that Moscow receives the White House support for bids by Georgia and Ukraine to join NATO as a threatening warning since Russia feels "surrounded by the alliance's military force," RAI Novosti reported.
Posted by:Fred

#2  US bases make them look bad on some many levels. The bases are not used to intimidate the host country. The bases bring cash to the host country and provide security and worst of all the base brings Americans into direct contact with locals who will see and judge them (and realize the lies Moscow has been saying) for themselves.

Personally I think this is just Russia preparing the playing field for Obama. He wants to pull back, Russia can provide the first opportunity and thus seem to be molified by the actions making Obama look good while getting what they want.

I suspect a deal where as the Russians run the bases and supply the bases and the US rents the bases until the war in Afghanistan is over. OR something like that.
Posted by: rjschwarz   2008-12-17 09:08  

#1  You guys really want to get into another pissing contest with proxies? How dumb are you?

Yeah. Rhetorical.
Posted by: Anguger Tojo4943   2008-12-17 00:38  

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