After intense diplomatic pressure by the United States, including a letter from President Obama, the Kyrgyz Republic has decided to allow US troops to use the Manas air base as a transit stop for the mission in Afghanistan. The US will have to pay $60 million dollars a year, up from $17 million it has paid since 2001. Russia will continue to provide $150 million in aid and $2 billion in loans. The air base will also now be known as a transit center, with Kyrgyz troops securing the base area, rather than the American troops who do so now. There will be no restrictions on transporting weaponry through Manas, as there are in other countries that allow supplies to be transited.
President Bakiyev has played his strong hand well, securing a lot of money from two competing superpowers in economic turmoil. He will likely win in the upcoming elections, not only because he has eliminated viable opponents, but because he has secured so much money for his poor country. Time will tell on what the money will actually be spent.
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