A report that US defense officials helped block a NATO demand for an international probe into last month’s killing of protesters in Uzbekistan is proving an air base there to be one of the more diplomatically costly “lily pads” in Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld’s new lean, mean restructuring of the US global military presence.
Many countries and organizations, including the US, have called for an independent investigation. But The Washington Post reports that US defense officials – together with their Russian counterparts – “helped block a new demand for an international probe” last week.
British and other European officials had pushed to include language calling for an independent investigation in a communique issued by defense ministers of NATO countries and Russia after a daylong meeting in Brussels on Thursday. But the joint communique merely stated that “issues of security and stability in Central Asia, including Uzbekistan,” had been discussed.
Four Republican senators - John McCain, Lindsey Graham, John Sununu and Mike DeWine - and two Democrats - Patrick Leahy and Joseph Biden - sent a letter to the administration saying the US should reconsider its relationship with Uzbekistan.
“Particularly after freedom’s advances in Ukraine, Georgia and Kyrgyzstan, we believe that the United States must be careful about being too closely associated with a government that has killed hundreds of demonstrators and refused international calls for a transparent investigation,” the senators wrote.
Meanwhile, EU foreign ministers “indicated that they could consider imposing sanctions on Uzbekistan if it continues to refuse an international inquiry,” http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0614/dailyUpdate.html
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Here we go again on the hypocrisy merry go round after publicly supporting the Ukraine and Georgian demos we have the opposite reaction in Uzbekistan after the brutual massacre of uzbek civillians not seen since the Tiananmen Square masscre in 89, the US right wingers including the now infamous nazi Donald rumsfield have blocked calls for an investigation into this most brutal of massacres.**
Re: US blocked NATO call for probe of Uzbek 'massacre'!
Rumsfeld foreign policy skill making is an absolute disaster; he’s a failure, so no surprise at his stance here. He's a man who sets his eyes on something and sets out to do it a certain way and let's nothing stop him or divert his method, he wants an airbase in Uzbekistan and that's all that matters. Hypocrisy to the hilt.
Re: US blocked NATO call for probe of Uzbek 'massacre'!
This is the freedom loving, human rights protecting US of A? Pathetic. You guys have gone from the worlds heros after the cold war to this centuries version of the soviet union.
Re: US blocked NATO call for probe of Uzbek 'massacre'!
We should get out of Uzbekistan, one base is not worth this crap.
However, since when does NATO have any investigative authority? Lets see this for what it is, a chance for EU political opponents to slap the US. France and Germany have no compulsion doing business with anybody in the world. Need a nuclear reactor? Need help with bio weapons? Need anything? France Germany and Russia will sell it to you.
With the US pulling troops out of Germany, in bases that provided thousand of local jobs, Germany certainly has a bone to pick. Cherac just lost a huge vote, and needs some political cover. Let's not believe that hypocrisy is not a universal political truth.
Re: US blocked NATO call for probe of Uzbek 'massacre'!
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Let's not believe that hypocrisy is not a universal political truth.
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I am just quoting that for future reference. Its amazing how you lot say one thing and completely ignore the fact that you do it more often yourself than others.
ohioguy is that really you posting the above ? i don’t belive it my eyes must be deceiving me