US faces eviction from Kyrgyzstan (Our Last Mil Base in Central Asia.)

US facility faces eviction from Kyrgyzstan
By Isabel Gorst in Osh
Published: May 19 2006 18:49 | Last updated: May 19 2006 18:49

Kyrgyzstan warned on Friday that the US risked eviction from its last military base in central Asia unless it agreed to a 100-fold increase in rental for aircraft landing and refuelling facilities at Manas outside the capital Bishkek.

Kurmanbek Bakiyev, the Kyrgyz president, said the US must pay $200m (€156m, £106m) a year, up from $2.7m, for the use of Manas, which was set up in 2001 as a launch pad for US-coalition forces operations to overthrow the Taliban in Afghanistan. He said there would be “no room for haggling” in the next round of talks with the Pentagon opening in Bishkek next week.

Mr Bakiyev said that the ending of the war in Afghanistan had removed justification for US military presence in Kyrgyzstan.

Mr Bakiyev’s remarks will raise concern about the US ability to maintain influence in central Asia at a time of growing instability in several states in the region including Kyrgyzstan, which has slid into crime and banditry since a revolution last year ended the 14-year rule of President Askar Akayev.

Last year Uzbekistan expelled the US from a base on its territory.

http://news.ft.com/cms/s/7e3665dc-e75e-11da-9046-0000779e2340.html

about....oh,.....wait a minute.....he doesn't have any capital left, monetarily, politically, domestically or internationally.

Where it once was politically wise to ally oneself with the U.S, the opposite now seems to be occurring. Domestically, even the repubs are trying to distance themselves from the bush admin, internationally, former friendly countries are distancing themselves from the bush admin aka the U.S.

Can you say Trans Caspian Pipeline? Just a pet theory of mine.
We never seem to allude to our energy jones when we commit force
to insure it's supply. Oil is never officially mentioned to this day as
a reason for messing with Iraq or threatening Iran.
Instead of fighting for OUR oil we are fighting for democracy.
Shouldn't the economists be commenting on how the price of
democracy is now above $70 a barrel?

Kyrgyzstan being quite a distance from the Caspian, and not being a major producer of oil or gas (though they are looking for more oil, it's true), what has the country to do with a trans Caspian pipeline?

China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan are all members and of course is interested in the gas pipeline. The SCO meet last week to discuss admitting India, Pakistan, Mongolia, and Iran into the SCO. Next month the Shah of Iran will be meeting with them in Shanghai.

Yes it is all about the power of oil and while the US is losing friends, the other side is amassing theirs.

won't be able to afford the "rent" on this base, since the rent went up 100-fold. And it's obvious Mr. Bakiyev 'the landlord' is not going to go for any negotiations here.

The US can't afford these price hikes. We're broke as it is.

I think once the other countries hear about this, they're going to raise the rent, as well. after all, we're blowing $8 billion per month in Iraq. What's a few millions?