Article

2005-11-03 Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Kyrgyz gov't wants more $$$ for US airbases

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Posted by Seafarious 2005-11-03 00:00|| || Front Page|| [2 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 The 800-1000 contingent at the Ganci airbase contributes 5% of Kyrgyz GDP and is the just about the only legit source of high paying jobs (i.e. not Gov graft and mafia). It's not going anywhere unless the US gets tired of the BS and decides to fly directly from Afghanistan. The new rulers of Kyrgyzstan are same as the old rulers and are trying to shake down the US for another $80 million that the previous rulers stole. My take, if you want the protection, stability, and economic development US bases foster, then pay the US for the priveledge.

Posted by ed 2005-11-03 01:21|| 2005-11-03 01:21|| Front Page Top

#2 I was actually ok with Bakiyev's request until he sited "government figures."

Posted by Besoeker 2005-11-03 08:13|| 2005-11-03 08:13|| Front Page Top

#3 Practically speaking, that base is worth 10 times what we are paying for it. In counter negotiations, we could really shake up their pot if we offered a long-term lease, half up front, on condition that the money be visible down to the last dime.

That would drive them bonkers. A huge amount of money by their standards, but difficult to graft from. The carrot, along with that stick, *would* be pure graft, but mutually profitable: set up concessionaires around the base as "local providers".

The trick is that while the public sees the big up front payment administered honestly, to their amazement, and the government's cred; the grafters in the government *slowly* make 10 times that much through the concessions. This lets them be profoundly corrupt, while looking honest as the day is long.

As far as whatever the crap they sell us from the concession, we just dig a big hole, throw it in and bury it when full. A hundred different businesses created in the process.

So, in this way, we get a long-term lease at a pretty good price. They get a satisfied public, a new and wealthy city built to support our base, lots of "direct payments" to their government, bureaucrats and businessmen, and so much goodwill with the US that there isn't a bag big enough to hold it.

Sound utterly corrupt? That's pretty much what we did in Germany. And many a German tear is shed when we close a base over there.

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-11-03 13:33|| 2005-11-03 13:33|| Front Page Top

#4 Sound utterly corrupt? That's pretty much what we did in Germany. And many a German tear is shed when we close a base over there.
Posted by: Anonymoose 2005-11-03 13:33

But Anonymoose... it did my heart so much good to see those tight sphincter'd Kraut DoD civilian employees have to look for REAL work!

Posted by Besoeker 2005-11-03 16:14|| 2005-11-03 16:14|| Front Page Top

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