July 14, 2004
THE UNREALIST:
US yanks aid to Uzbekistan, a war on terror ally: Citing Tashkent's poor human rights record, the US effectively revokes $18 million in funding. (Peter Boehm, 7/15/04, CS Monitor)
Upset with the lack of political and economic reforms in Uzbekistan, the US State Department announced Tuesday its decision not to certify the country, effectively denying the renewal of $18 million in aid.US involvement in the Central Asian republic deepened shortly after Sept. 11, 2001, as Washington laid plans to overthrow the Taliban. Uzbekistan allowed US forces to be based near its border with Afghanistan; a contingent remains today. The regime in Tashkent has also been a staunch supporter of the US in Iraq.
The Bush administration's decision to slash aid sends a signal abroad that despite the president's "with us or against us" formula, there is a point at which human rights abuses can overshadow military and diplomatic support for the war on terror.
Here's where you can see a clear difference between the idealism of George W. Bush, which requires adherence to such standards, and the realism of John Kerry, which would not even have been much bothered by Saddam's regime so long as it kept the region stable. Posted by Orrin Judd at July 14, 2004 8:44 PM
It's easier to yank the aid after you've used the base and don't really need it any more.
Karimov say it coming months ago. He spoke in Russia not all that long ago about renewing "strategic partnership" with Russia. He needs a powerful state to help him put down Islamists who threaten to topple his regime, and doesn't much care which powerful nation it is (although at one time he was sort of thumbing his nose at Russia when he had US support).
He's a fairly smooth operator for a petty tyrant, actually.
Posted by: kevin whited at July 14, 2004 9:17 PMPowerful state? They why is he casting his lot with Russia?
Posted by: ray at July 14, 2004 11:00 PMThe Democrat foreign policy is actually to appease our enemies but punish our allies.
Posted by: David Cohen at July 14, 2004 11:15 PMThis election is about the fear of the many special interests who see their privileges threatened. That's also a driving force in Europe's anti-Americanism; they see our success as a bad example of their needed reforms. As in France last summer; so what if Grandma expires, I'm on vacation. I'll take care of it when I get home.
Posted by: genecis at July 15, 2004 10:28 AMRay, all power is relative and Russia is very close to Uzbekistan. It can project power there.
Posted by: Chris Durnell at July 15, 2004 11:32 AM