FAIL: Obama and Kyrgyzstan
Yesterday I wrote about the Kyrgyzstan revolt, and how it would be good if the US could actually gets its objectives sorted out an not be so single-mindedly blind. I had little hope, and I was right.
So far, the major US response has been "we are monitoring the situation to make sure supply lines to Manas (the airbase) stay open"..uh... thanks? WTF. This is a legitimate revolt seeking democracy in central asia and our response is.. to monitor supply lines?
The leaders of the opposition who have taken power are pretty pissed with the Obama administration. The same administration which courted the now more or less deposed Mr. Bakiyev in an ultimately successful attempt to retain rights to the military base, Manas, used to supply troops in Afghanistan. President Obama even sent him a letter of praise, after the administration admitted he was an autocrat. Brilliant.
From the NYT (shockingly, even they have to criticize His Holy Obamaness on this one):
"The American attitude toward Mr. Bakiyev ruffled opposition politicians in Kyrgyzstan, who said it was shameful for the United States to stand for democratic values in the developing world while maintaining an alliance with him."
Due to the uprising, the state department canceled meetings with Mr. Bakiyev's leading henchman, his son. Impressive show of solidarity with democracy there. Not to mention - read the damn winds. Russia and us have bases there, and both have and want influence. Even if you don't give a damn about democracy and you just want to keep your precious base used to fight a war to bring democracy, support the opposition in some way (even if it means playing both sides of the coin) so you retain influence. But really, why the fuck are we not supporting democracy?
So far, the major US response has been "we are monitoring the situation to make sure supply lines to Manas (the airbase) stay open"..uh... thanks? WTF. This is a legitimate revolt seeking democracy in central asia and our response is.. to monitor supply lines?
The leaders of the opposition who have taken power are pretty pissed with the Obama administration. The same administration which courted the now more or less deposed Mr. Bakiyev in an ultimately successful attempt to retain rights to the military base, Manas, used to supply troops in Afghanistan. President Obama even sent him a letter of praise, after the administration admitted he was an autocrat. Brilliant.
From the NYT (shockingly, even they have to criticize His Holy Obamaness on this one):
"The American attitude toward Mr. Bakiyev ruffled opposition politicians in Kyrgyzstan, who said it was shameful for the United States to stand for democratic values in the developing world while maintaining an alliance with him."
Due to the uprising, the state department canceled meetings with Mr. Bakiyev's leading henchman, his son. Impressive show of solidarity with democracy there. Not to mention - read the damn winds. Russia and us have bases there, and both have and want influence. Even if you don't give a damn about democracy and you just want to keep your precious base used to fight a war to bring democracy, support the opposition in some way (even if it means playing both sides of the coin) so you retain influence. But really, why the fuck are we not supporting democracy?
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