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historian


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Supply routes into Afghanistan
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Seems there's trouble over there --

Kyrgyzstan to close U.S. base used to supply Afghanistan
By Tom Lasseter
Tue Feb 3, 3:23 pm ET
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapc...dge.explosion/

 MOSCOW In a setback to the escalating U.S. military efforts in Afghanistan , the president of Kyrgyzstan said Tuesday that his government will shut down the American air base in his country.

U.S. officials say that the Manas Air Base is vital to plans to send an additional 30,000 American troops to Afghanistan , a linchpin of President Barack Obama's efforts to pacify the country.

The announcement by President Kurmanbek Bakiyev came in Moscow , not in his own capital, and shortly after the Russian government reportedly agreed to lend Kyrgyzstan $2 billion , write off $180 million in debt and add another $150 million in aid. Although the Russian government didn't release a statement about the decision, the timing and place of the announcement indicated that the Kremlin had been involved.

The Russian government has been pushing to restore its clout in the former Soviet sphere of influence despite deep economic problems at home a trend that most analysts say will make Obama's dealings with Russia delicate at best.

"It's a direct challenge to the new American administration. Russia is going out of its way to close an American base," said Pavel Felgenhauer , a Moscow -based military analyst.

Two weeks ago, Gen. David Petraeus , the head of the U.S. Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the Middle East and south Asia , said that senior Kyrgyz officials had assured him that there were no discussions between the country and Russia about closing the base in exchange for aid.

The Manas installation is viewed as "the premier air-mobility hub" for U.S. and allied operations in Afghanistan , with about 1,000 military personnel from America, Spain and France stationed there, according to a U.S. Air Force Web site.

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historian


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With the airbase used to supply Afghanistan from the North closed, this happens to the southern supply route. I may not agree with the wisdom of having our people over there, but it's scary to see them encircled because the Khyber Pass route is closed again.

Suspected militants destroy bridge in Pakistan
02/03/09

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Suspected Taliban militants have blown up a bridge in the border region between Pakistan and Afghanistan, suspending NATO supply lines, while at least 35 suspected militants have been killed as part of ongoing operations in the Swat Valley.

The bridge blast occurred in the Khata Kushta area of Jamrod in the Khyber Agency in Pakistan Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

The bridge connected Landi Kotal and Jamrod. Transportation has been suspended, and authorities are assessing damages.

Engineers are also on location and work is under way to open a temporary route.

Details are unclear on the size of the blast, the degree of damage to the bridge, and the timing of the explosion.

No deaths or injuries were immediately reported.

This is the main route used by vehicles traveling from Afghanistan into Pakistan. The bridge is part of the main road in the area and all vehicles have to cross it when going from Peshawar toward the crossing point into Afghanistan.

This is the first time militants have targeted a bridge or roadway in efforts to disrupt NATO supplies. Previously, militants have targeted truck depots where supply convoys wait to cross into Afghanistan or have attacked trucks on their way through Pakistan and into the Khyber Agency.

Meanwhile on Monday, at least 35 suspected militants were killed as part of ongoing operations in the Swat Valley, the Pakistan military confirmed to CNN.

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lundbaek


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Our younger son recently back from a year somewhere out in the middle of nowhere in A'stan told me that Russians were flying their supplies.  

As I look at the situation is A'stan, Iraq, Iran, Israel (we have at least one military base and personel in Israel), and Korea, I cannot help thinking of a statement attributed to the Prophet Joseph Smith by Mosiah Hancock: "The United States will spend her strength and means warring in foreign lands until other nations will say, "Let's divide up the lands of the United States", then the people of the U. S. will unite and swear by the blood of their fore-fathers, that the land shall not be divided. Then the country will go to war, and they will fight until one half of the U. S. army will give up, and the rest will continue to struggle. They will keep on until they are very ragged and discouraged, and almost ready to give up--when the boys from the mountains will rush forth in time to save the American Army from defeat and ruin. And they will say, 'Brethren, we are glad you have come; give us men, henceforth, who can talk with God'. Then you will have friends, but you will save the country when it's liberty hangs by a hair, as it were". 

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arbilad


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That could easily come soon. The US is not popular abroad.

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