| It is often amazing how events around the globe | | | | opposition leaders for seeking for standing up to |
| affect us here at home. Sometimes it pays to do | | | | an authoritarian regime however. A planned, well |
| nothing, and at other times we cannot turn a | | | | thought out Coup d'état can actually be a very |
| blind's eye. How we handle such affairs says a lot | | | | sound and efficient instrument in bringing about |
| about who we are, what we stand for, and our | | | | change and has done so for many countries. |
| primary focus and objectives in those areas of | | | | However this debacle was far from an organized |
| the world; the US cannot be all things to all people. | | | | military move, it was a knee jerk reaction that |
| Sometimes it may seem cruel to do nothing, but | | | | resulted in dozens of deaths and has left the |
| often that is the best course of action, even if it | | | | people without a leader and a crippled |
| hurts our hearts to watch things unfold. | | | | infrastructure. Matters could even be made worse |
| The Kyrgyzstan Revolution and civil unrest is half | | | | by opposition leaders if they are incompetent |
| a world away, but it still affects us here in the | | | | enough to begin a power struggle amongst |
| United States. Not long ago, I was discussing this | | | | themselves for leadership positions within the new |
| Geo-Political issue with a post cold war scholar on | | | | party. In fighting and division right now would only |
| Russian-US Relations, and I asked Mr. Jesse | | | | delay the chaos and looting that is taking place in |
| Giraldo point blank; What do you think about the | | | | their own streets further destabilizing and |
| latest challenges in Kyrgyzstan, that does throw a | | | | destroying their economic infrastructure. |
| loop in the fire? Here is his reply; | | | | In my analysis this party has only two realistic |
| Where to start. Well It's certainly made things | | | | choices, they can continue to attempt an effort |
| quite a bit more complicated. Kyrgyzstan has | | | | at establishing a new government under their |
| been the geopolitical battleground for competing | | | | administration or they can reach out to Russia for |
| military intrests between the U.S and the Russians | | | | assistance in re-establishing order in the region. |
| since the 90's. Kyrgyzstan has been politically | | | | However the latter may be a pipe dream since |
| unstable since the tulip revolt but now things have | | | | Moscow will be hesitant to send troops in to quell |
| descended from bad to worse. At least before | | | | the violence as they are already under suspicion |
| Bakiyev had a functioning albeit authoritarian | | | | of inciting the violence against Bakiyevs |
| government that was capable of running the | | | | government by a number of groups including |
| countries affairs, what's happening in Kyrgyzstan | | | | most notably Uzbekistan. And Russia doesn't |
| now is nothing short of mob rule anarchy. | | | | seem to feel it's worth it to jeopardize relations |
| Kyrgyzstan is experiencing the pent up frustration | | | | with its valued natural gas supplier. Bottom line it's |
| of over 5 years of bureaucratic abuse at the | | | | a madhouse and the country is in a state of free |
| hands of its own government. This is Bakiyev's | | | | fall while the U.S and Russia are keeping a safe |
| just deserts for implementing authoritarian | | | | distance but still watching very intently. |
| doctrines while failing to weed out the corruption | | | | All great points made by Jesse Giraldo, and so I |
| he claimed to stand against. In the end he was | | | | asked some more questions, namely; "Do you |
| little better than his predecessor and like so many | | | | think that many of those in Kyrgyzstan look |
| he ended up becoming the very thing he fought | | | | down on the US for their ties with the fallen |
| to destroy. He drove his own people to the brink | | | | government, as we made deals with them to |
| of poverty with ridiculous tax hikes and laws and | | | | allow a base there for aerial logistics? Or do you |
| now people are dying. | | | | believe that suspicion will blow over, as we didn't |
| The real tragedy of the whole crisis isn't even | | | | stop the overthrow and stayed for the most |
| Bakiyevs failure as a president, but what happens | | | | part neutral?" |
| now that the opposition has taken over? The | | | | Jesse went on to explain; I have no doubt |
| opposition party that ran out the current | | | | Kyrgyzstan's citizens looked unfavorably upon our |
| administration is poorly organized and ridiculously ill | | | | inaction towards the former authoritarian regime |
| prepared to serve the needs of its new | | | | of Bakiyev. How could they not? The U.S |
| constituents. These people haven't even agreed | | | | displayed clear indifference to the suffering of an |
| to who will lead their new government much less | | | | entire nation so long as our airbase was |
| what they will do to correct the failures of the | | | | operational. |
| past. I find this to be a recurring tragedy of the | | | | Indeed, I suppose this criticism is deserved, as we |
| armed revolution throughout military history. | | | | are indifferent lots of places in the world. We can't |
| People with seemingly pure intentions cannot see | | | | be everything to everyone, and that government |
| the big picture and simply think removing the | | | | wasn't nearly as bad, as some of the African |
| current regime is all that is required. They fail to | | | | nations, or their leaders we have to deal with in |
| follow through and implement corrective policies | | | | order to have our bases there, nevertheless |
| and fall to the same vices. I do not fault the | | | | these are all issue we ought to be considering. |