Troubling news has come from Kyrgyzstan stating that America's only central Asian partner is going to close its airbase to US troops. This will considerably set back efforts by the US to ship an additional 17,000 troops to Afghanistan. By closing the airbase to US troops, America will have trouble moving in their reinforcements to the region.
However, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates has stated that losing the Kyrgyzstan airbase wont be an Achilles Heel of the war effort. "Mr Gates said the Manas base was not irreplaceable. The Pentagon would consider 'a somewhat larger payment but we're not going to be ridiculous about it', he added."
There are other bases in the immediate area that could be used Gates stated, but its more convenient for Americans to use the Kyrgyzstan base. With the resurgence of the Taliban in Afghanistan, and the recent events in Pakistan, the US needs all available manpower and allies at its disposal. When all is said and done, this could not have come at a worse time.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7900367.stm
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