Newsgroup: it.politica.internazionale
Titolo: a mai più rivederci!

2/4/2009 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Senior U.S. officials hope to continue
operations at Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan, but would use other means
to support troops in Afghanistan if the Kyrgyz government goes through
with plans to close it, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said Feb. 4.
Neither the State Department nor the Defense Department has received
official word that Kyrgyzstan plans to discontinue its three-year
arrangement with the United States, Mr. Whitman told Pentagon
reporters.
But Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev reportedly announced plans to
close the base Feb. 3 after meeting with Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev in Moscow. News reports said Medvedev promised debt
forgiveness and extensive financial aid to Kyrgyzstan during the
session.
The United States pays $17.4 million a year to use the air base, a
major logistical and refueling hub supporting international troops in
Afghanistan, Mr. Whitman said. The United States and Kyrgyzstan signed
a "protocol of intentions" in 2006 that allowed the United States to
renew the arrangement in one-year increments through July 2011.
Overall, U.S. government assistance programs for Kyrgyzstan total
about $150 million a year, Mr. Whitman said.
The closure plan, if implemented, would affect about 15,000 people and
500 tons of cargo that transit through Manas each month, Mr. Whitman
said. About 1,000 troops, most of them American, but some from France
and Spain, are assigned to the base.
"It is a hugely important air base for us," Pentagon Press Secretary
Geoff Morrell said during a Feb. 3 Pentagon news briefing. "It
provides us with a launching-off point to provide supplies to our
forces in Afghanistan. We very much appreciate the support the Kyrgyz
have given us in the use of that base, and we hope to continue using
it."
The State Department is leading discussions with the Kyrgyz
government, but U.S. military officials also have weighed in with
their support. Army Gen. David H. Petraeus, commander of U.S. Central
Command, and Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, commander of U.S. Transportation
Command, both have urged the Kyrgyz government to authorize its
continued use.
"We are actively involved in discussions with the Kyrgyz government
about the continued use of Manas," Mr. Morrell said Feb. 3.
Mr. Whitman said Manas Air Base contributes to the security and
stability not only of Afghanistan, but also Central Asia. The base
hosted earthquake relief and supply efforts for Pakistan in 2005.
Should Kyrgyzstan close Manas, Mr. Whitman said, the United States
will use other means to support U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan.
"While we value the relationship we have and the arrangements we have
with Manas, the United States would certainly be able to continue
operations in Afghanistan if we did not have that facility," he said.
"We are talking about the United States military -- the most flexible,
adaptable, capable, innovative military in the world."
Manas is the only U.S. air base in Central Asia. Uzbekistan closed its
base, Karshi-Khanabad --- known as "K-2" -- to the United States in
2005. K-2 had supported military and humanitarian operations since
just after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123134037

 with plans to close it, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said Feb. 4.
come dicevo l'unica via 'sicura' è quella pakistana...via mare fino a 
Karachi...