KYRGYSTAN: OBAMA HARVESTING THE BITTER FRUITS OF APPEASEMENT

BBC:

The opposition in Kyrgyzstan says it is setting up a "people's government" after deadly clashes left dozens dead.

The opposition said Prime Minister Daniyar Usenov had agreed to resign but President Kurmanbek Bakiyev has yet to do so.

The whereabouts of President Bakiyev are not clear but reports say that he has flown out of the capital, Bishkek.

Protests at rising prices, corruption and the arrest of opposition leaders had erupted in three cities.

Kyrgyzstan is a strategically important Central Asian state and houses a key US military base that supplies forces in Afghanistan. Russia also has a base there.

... Russian PM Vladimir Putin denied that Moscow had played any role in the unrest, saying it was a "domestic affair" and that there should be
"restraint".

NYTIMES:

Large-scale protests on Wednesday appeared to overthrow the government of Kyrgyzstan, an important American ally in Central Asia. Government officials said at least 41 people had been killed in bloody fighting between riot police and demonstrators in the capital of Bishkek and elsewhere in the country.

While the opposition declared that it was forming its own government, President Kurmanbek Bakiyev left Bishkek in the presidential plane, though it was not clear whether he was leaving the country or heading to another Kyrgyz city. Earlier in the day, the police used live ammunition, tear gas and stun grenades against a crowd of thousands that massed in front of the presidential office in Bishkek, according to witness accounts.

NEWSWEEK:

The potential overthrow of Kyrgyzstan's government is worrisome for not only its neighbors but also the United States and its operations in Afghanistan.

NRO:

A Lt. Colonel in the Air Force e-mails me with this (unclassified) tidbit on the effect of the Kyrgyz unrest on allied operations inside Afghanistan:

For the last few months we have been flying MATV's (the new, tougher MRAPs) into Manas AB, Kyrgyzstan via commercial 747's and transloading them onto C-17's for delivery into Afghanistan (mainly Kandahar, Bagram and Camp Bastion).

Due to 'civic unrest' Manas AB is now temporarily shut down to flying ops. To say this puts a crimp in the 'logistics hose' is an understatement. If the new gov't can't be convinced to play ball re: Manas we will be 'challenged' to say the least. . . .[I]t is also a significant mil passenger hub . . . .

OBAMA HAS SUCKED UP TO IRAN AND NORTH KOREA AND THE TALIBAN AND FATAH AND HAMAS AND TURKEY.

AND OBAMA HAS PLAYED IT TOUGH ON OUR ALLIES.

SO NATURALLY, OUR ENEMIES SEE THIS AND REALIZE THEY CAN ENCROACH AND ATTACK US WITH IMPUNITY.

WITHOUT FEAR.

THE RESULT THREATENS ALL THE GAINS IN AFGHANISTAN AND EVEN IRAQ.

IT HELPS IRAN AND FATAH AND HAMAS.

IF OBAMA WAS A CRYPTO-MUSLIM WHO WANTED US TO LOSE HE COULDN'T HAVE WISHED FOR A BETTER THING TO HAPPEN RIGHT NOW.

IT'S JIMMY CARTER AND NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN REDUX.

HOW SO WE STOP IT?

VOTE GOP THIS NOVEMBER.