Uzbekistan Demands U.S. Vacate Air Base

The government of Uzbekistan has formally served a notice of eviction of U.S. personnel and equipment from its air base in that country, according to MSNBC.com. The eviction notice was couriered to the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent.

While no reason has been given for the eviction, which takes effect in 180 days, the action takes place as relations between the U.S. and Uzbekistan are increasingly troubled over claims that the Uzbek government has violated the human rights of political protestors in the province of Andijan. The U.S. and independent human rights groups have criticized violent official crackdowns in that region.

The base has been described as "critical" to U.S. operations in Afghanistan, but American authorities have already secured alternative sites in other countries to replace it.

For more information, see this MSNBC.com article.

Comment: Other media reports have omitted the fact that the U.S. has alternatives in hand which will serve the purposes currently fulfilled by the Uzbek base.

In other words, we are prepared for whatever contingency may occur. But if you were to rely on most media reports, you'd never know that. Rather unfortunate, I would say.