Guardian: What drives support for this torturer

[muriel_volestrangler]

Oil and gas ensure that the US backs the Uzbek dictator to the hilt

The bodies of hundreds of pro-democracy protesters in Uzbekistan are scarcely cold, and already the White House is looking for ways to dismiss them. The White House spokesman Scott McClellan said those shot dead in the city of Andijan included "Islamic terrorists" offering armed resistance. They should, McClellan insists, seek democratic government "through peaceful means, not through violence".

But how? This is not Georgia, Ukraine or even Kyrgyzstan. There, the opposition parties could fight elections. The results were fixed, but the opportunity to propagate their message brought change. In Uzbek elections on December 26, the opposition was not allowed to take part at all.
...
And it's not just words. In 2002, the US gave Uzbekistan over $500m in aid, including $120m in military aid and $80m in security aid. The level has declined - but not nearly as much as official figures seem to show (much is hidden in Pentagon budgets after criticism of the 2002 figure).

The airbase opened by the US at Khanabad is not essential to operations in Afghanistan, its claimed raison d'être. It has a more crucial role as the easternmost of Donald Rumsfeld's "lily pads" - air bases surrounding the "wider Middle East", by which the Pentagon means the belt of oil and gas fields stretching from the Middle East through the Caucasus and central Asia. A key component of this strategic jigsaw fell into place this spring when US firms were contracted to build a pipeline to bring central Asia's hydrocarbons out through Afghanistan to the Arabian sea. That strategic interest explains the recent signature of the US-Afghan strategic partnership agreement, as well as Bush's strong support for Karimov.
...
Craig Murray was British ambassador to Uzbekistan from 2002 to 2004

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1484631,00.html

[Jack Rabbit]

1. Human Rights Watch: Wider Crackdown Feared

From Human Rights Watch
Dated Sunday May 15

Uzbekistan: Wider Crackdown Feared

Following massive demonstrations on Friday and Saturday in eastern Uzbekistan, Human Rights Watch is concerned that the Uzbek government may again use excessive force against demonstrators and unleash a broader crackdown on peaceful protesters and dissidents.

With the possibility of protests continuing, Human Rights Watch called on the government not to use lethal force to disperse demonstrators. "International law is very clear on the use of excessive force," said Holly Cartner. "It's the government's duty to maintain civic order but it is also obligated to uphold the law."

According to press reports, government troops violently dispersed demonstrations on Friday in the city of Andijan, opening fire on crowds of protesters numbering as many as 10,000 on the city's main square. The death toll is unknown, but eyewitnesses estimated that as many as several hundred were killed and many more injured, including unarmed civilians.

The United Nations Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials require law enforcement officials, in carrying out their duty, to apply non-violent means to the degree possible before resorting to the use of force. Whenever the lawful use of force is unavoidable, the rules require law enforcement officials to use restraint and act in proportion to the seriousness of the offense and the legitimate objective to be achieved. Law enforcement officers should minimize damage and injury and respect and preserve human life.

Read more.

[Catrina]

2. Scott McClellan

is getting the talking points out to cover for Bush supporting the dictator of Uzbekistan. 'Islamic terrorists' are two words we will hear a lof of re that uprising from now on.

Karamov most likely has been told by Cheney to 'crack down hard' on any further dissent. They need that country and people don't matter one bit to them. They will cover for Karamov in the US, where most people have no idea where to find it on the map, let alone know that Karamov is a brutal dictator. After all, Bush is for democracy. That's why we went to Iraq (well after all the other lies failed) to remove a brutal dictator and liberate the people.

They cannot let the American people know just how hypocritical they are. I think the coverage will stop, and the media will report what Scott McClellan said, so what there was slaughter in the streets by the government, our friend Karamov was just ridding the planet of Islamic terrorists. If there's a hell, there must be a special place there for these people.

[Jack Rabbit]

3. Guardian Utd (Monday): Straw condemns Uzbekistan after 500 are killed

From the Guardian Unlimited (UK)
Dated Monday May 16

Straw condemns Uzbekistan after 500 protesters are killed
By Nick Paton Walsh in Moscow and Ewen MacAskill in London

The British government clashed openly with Uzbekistan yesterday over the violent suppression of a protest in the former Soviet republic that the Foreign Office said had left hundreds dead.

In an unusual condemnation of a country routinely described as a loyal ally by both Britain and the US, Jack Straw, the foreign secretary, said yesterday there had been a "clear abuse of human rights".

The Uzbekistan government, unused to criticism from such a high level, quickly issued a rebuke: "From where has Jack Straw learned that law enforcement had 'opened fire on demonstrators' if that did not take place at all."

The diplomatic collision came as the full scale of the killing in the Uzbek town of Andijan became apparent yesterday when witnesses said up to 500 civilians had been shot dead by troops.

It looks like the British will take the high road and the Bushies (as usual) will take the low road.

[chlamor]

4. Excellent Article-thanx n/t

[Vladimir]

5. An excellent article

Uzbekistan is an example of the hypocritical rhetoric emplyed by the White House in the context of the War on Terror, but it is also fundamentally different from the 'velvet revolutions' in having a government willing to use massive force against its civilians and an army willing to do the killing. Of course the US couldn't care less about Karimov in himself, its the cooperation that Karimov stands for which is central the the Bush administration. Assuming that the situation inside the country continues to escalate, it will become crucial whether any opposition figures step forward which can be considered friendly to Washington - as happened in Georgia, Ukraine and so on - because I doubt the US will have much of an appetite for civil war in a country where it has a strong military presence.

[Vladimir]

6. And it could spill over

Uzbeks seek refuge in Kyrgyzstan
By Ian MacWilliam
Teshiktash, Kyrgyz border

Most of the refugees are men
Kyrgyzstan has been registering more than 500 refugees who escaped from the Uzbek town of Andijan, after troops opened fire on protesters on Friday.

The refugees, mostly men but including some women and small children, say they fear government reprisals if they return to Uzbekistan.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4552137.stm

considering that Kyrgyzstan has just completed its own "revolution", which was more of a realignment, it has to be of concern that large numbers of refugees will be corssing over into what is a poor and unstable country in its own right.

[struggle4progress]

7. kick