“The New York Times,” April 12, 2010, reported that jet fuel sales to the Manas Air Base outside Bishkek, the capital in Kyrgyzstan, was an issue in the recent revolt and was the same the last time the people over threw the government in 2005. There are accusations that U. S. paid the former ruling family extra on Pentagon contracts for aviation fuel. However, something much sinister may be involved this time if Russia was involved in the revolt.
Surprisingly, Kyrgyzstan has a Russian military base where Russia flew in extra troops during the revolt.
The Kyrgyzstan air base is critical to supplying fuel, troops and equipment to Afghanistan. The air base is the only transit spot in Central Asia for the U.S. in Afghanistan.
The U.S. resumed normal flights at Manas for now after being halted for a couple of days.
After a former communist and close ally of Russia won elections in Ukraine, then there is the occupation of parts of Georgia, it may be that Russia is trying to solidify its influence in the former Soviet republics.
Kyrgyzstan is in our national security interest but it remains to be seen what role Russia will play in the new government.
More important, do we have the leadership and experience in Washington, D.C., to not screw this up.
