Karimov escapes regime change as America pursues the ‘great game’

[CHIMO]

Karimov escapes regime change as America pursues the ‘great game’

A GLANCE at the map confirms the strategic importance of Uzbekistan, not just in regional terms but also as it is viewed from Washington.

To the south and southwest are Afghanistan and Iran, a fact which inspired President Islam Karimov to push himself into contention as a useful ally in President Bush’s war on terror.

The US operates an air base with 1000 ground troops at Khanabad outside the Uzbek capital Tashkent. The former Soviet facility is used for operations in Afghanistan, and to date the US has supplied the country with some $800 million in military and humanitarian aid.

For comfort, Karimov only has to look over the border to Kyrgyzstan, where the US initially hesitated before backing the opposition groups which ousted Askar Akayev from the presidency earlier this year. Partly the delay was prompted by alarm for the safety of the US air base at Bishkek and partly it came from concerns that the opposition might be linked to terrorists. Needless to say, Akayev played up those fears and they were taken very seriously indeed by the State Department.

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