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Kyrgyzstan Votes to Shut Critical US Airbase

Military must leave Central Asian republic in 180 days

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 19, 2009 7:00 AM CST
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(Newser) – The parliament of Kyrgyzstan voted nearly unanimously to close a critical American military base in the country, dealing a blow to Barack Obama's efforts to reinforce troops in Afghanistan. The vote, 78-1, means that the US has 180 days to remove its airplanes and equipment, reports the Guardian. Kyrgyzstan's president announced the surprise expulsion last month in Moscow after Russia promised the former Soviet state a $2.15 billion loan and debt forgiveness.

An Air Force personnel member walks by a US plane at the Manas air base in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009.
An Air Force personnel member walks by a US plane at the Manas air base in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2009.   (AP Photo/Azamat Imanaliev)
Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev speaks in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009.
Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev speaks in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2009.   (AP Photo/Igor Kovalenko)
In this March 1, 2005 file photo, a U.S. soldier walks past local workers at a construction site at the U.S. air base at Manas international airport, near the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek.
In this March 1, 2005 file photo, a U.S. soldier walks past local workers at a construction site at the U.S. air base at Manas international airport, near the Kyrgyz capital Bishkek.   (AP Photo/Ivan Sekretarev, File)
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, right, and Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, right, and Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2009.   (AP Photo/RIA-Novosti, Mikhail Klimentyev, Presidential Press Service)
Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev announced the closure of the Manas air base, which is a crucial staging post for coalition operations in Afghanistan.
Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev announced the closure of the Manas air base, which is a crucial staging post for coalition operations in Afghanistan.   (AP Photo/Igor Kovalenko)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
AmericaPrevails
Feb 18, 2009 10:22 PM CST
No kidding! This sucks, Russia undermining our war efforts.
Guest
Feb 18, 2009 7:51 PM CST
...another "bought" friend of USA shows us the door for a better offer. only hope to see those members of parliament choke on their rubles.

 
Russia • Barack Obama • NATO • Kyrgyzstan • Dmitry Medvedev • Afghanistan war • Manas Air Base

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