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Kyrgyzstan shuts U.S. air base, NATO Afghan help sought
Thu Feb 19, 2009 8:32am EST
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By Maria Golovnina
BISHKEK (Reuters) - Kyrgyzstan's parliament voted on Thursday to close the last remaining U.S. air base in Central Asia, dealing a blow to U.S. efforts to use the region as a jumping-off point for its growing campaign in Afghanistan.
The United States is sending an extra 17,000 troops to Afghanistan and was seeking support from its allies at a NATO meeting in Poland for more help in defeating the Taliban.
Defense Secretary Robert Gates said before the meeting in Krakow that, "there clearly will be expectations that the allies must do more as well."
President Barack Obama has made the campaign in Afghanistan his top foreign policy priority.
But U.S. efforts to diversify supply routes into Afghanistan after supply convoys were attacked by militants in Pakistan hit a stumbling block when Kyrgyzstan said it would close the last remaining U.S. air base in Central Asia.
Kyrgyzstan's parliament backed a decision by President Kurmanbek Bakiyev -- announced in Moscow after he secured a $2 billion package of aid and credit from Russia -- to close the Manas air base 35 km (22 miles) from the capital Bishkek.
Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Kadyrbek Sarbayev said Washington would be given 180 days to wrap up operations after the parliamentary decision was signed into law.
The United States and its allies fly troops and supplies from bases in Europe and the Gulf and could increase this traffic to make up for the loss of Manas air base.
But the closure underlined the challenges Washington faces in enlisting Russian support for its campaign in Afghanistan.
Russia says it is willing to help with the shipment of supplies through former Soviet Central Asian states, but is expected to resist any attempt by Washington to build a permanent military presence there.
A first shipment of non-military goods is expected to leave NATO member Latvia shortly, going through Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to Afghanistan.
HEAVY COMMITMENT
The United States is bracing itself for a major challenge in Afghanistan, with the Taliban insurgency growing in strength both there and in neighboring Pakistan.
U.S. Army General David McKiernan told reporters in Washington that 2009 would be a tough year, but the extra troops would help break a stalemate in southern Afghanistan.
But he said it would be a long struggle. "For the next three to four years, I think we're going to need to stay heavily committed ... in a sustained manner in Afghanistan." Continued...
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