Kyrgyzstan has essentially reversed a decision to close an American air base that is central to the NATO mission in nearby Afghanistan, after the United States acceded to sharply higher rent and to minor restrictions on the site, officials said on Tuesday.NEVERTHELESS, THE NYTIMES HAD THE AUDACITY TO SAY: The turnabout was a victory for the Obama administration
... the base is to be renamed a transit center, as opposed to an air base. And the Kyrgyz will control security around the base; currently, American military personnel do. The text of the new agreement specifies few other restrictions on how the United States can use the base. There are no apparent prohibitions on shipping weaponry.
One major change, though, is the rent. It will rise to $60 million annually from $17.4 million, Kadyrbek Sarbayev, Kyrgyzstan’s foreign minister, told the Kyrgyz Parliament on Tuesday.
Washington will also pay $36.6 million to expand the airport, and contribute tens of millions of dollars toward economic development and the fight against drug trafficking, Mr. Sarbayev said. He said the agreement would be for one year, and be contingent on the situation in Afghanistan.
The agreement now goes before the Kyrgyz Parliament for ratification, which is considered all but assured.
... according to the text of the new agreement, United States personnel and contractors can transport “any kinds of personal belongings, equipment, supplies, materials and technologies” into and out of Kyrgyzstan.
Supplies will be exempt from inspection or licensing by the Kyrgyz government, the agreement says.
There had long been speculation that the Kyrgyz government never intended to evict the Americans, but only wanted more rent.
HAH! PAYING RANSOM IS A VICTORY!?!? SHEESH.
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