February, 2009

Read this article today on CNN. Basically Kyrgyzstan suddenly decided that it would close down the Kyrgyz base that our military forces use to launch operations into Afghanistan.

This, hot on the heels of the news that Kyrgyzstan would accept a $300MM / 40 year loan from Russia.

The U.S. pays Kyrgyzstan $63MM / year to operate at the Kyrgyz base. That last number doesn't include the wages that we pay to employ 320 Kyrgyzstan citizens to help operate the base.

Now, I have never professed to be great a math but $63MM * 40 years = $2,520,000,000. Thats a heck of a lot more than $300MM that Russia is offering. Obviously that money isn't guaranteed, because who knows where our military interests will lie in 10 or 20 years. I'm willing to bet however that we wouldn't just give up a base so near to that area. Ever.

Something about this whole story just screams 'Test' to me. Ivan probably realizes Obama is really focused on our economy right now and this might be the perfect time to push the envelope and test where his resolve is at. I for one hope he responds with authority, show we won't be pushed around, anywhere.