Rumsfeld Makes It To First Base The game is far from over, though.

http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Central_Asia/GG28Ag01.html

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US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, on a three-day swing through the region that ended Wednesday, has received a pledge from Kyrgyzstan that the US can maintain its air base there as long as needed for its operations in Afghanistan.

The US regional presence includes two key air bases that have handled tens of thousands of US flights - Manas air base north of Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, where more than 1,000 troops are stationed, and the Karshi-Khanabad air base in Uzbekistan, with at least 800 US troops. The US also has overflight rights, "gas and go" refueling agreements and emergency landing agreements with these countries.

In addition, the US has negotiated an arrangement with Tajikistan allowing US military aircraft to refuel and fly over Tajik territory on missions relating to Afghanistan. The French air force has a base at Tajikistan's Dushanbe airport that hosts about 200 personnel.

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The Central Asian republics could reconsider their decision if the US was willing to pay a higher price for the continuation of its bases – more fees for the bases, complete non-interference on domestic issues in these countries.

The battle for control of Central Asia still could go either way
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the battle for control of Central Asia..........who will do the dying?