Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have completed their parliamentary elections according to schedule, despite the American prognosis that Central Asia is ripe for revolution
Published:
18 March 2005 y., Friday
The revolutionary winds blowing in from Georgia and Ukraine across the Central Asian steppes seem to have lost their way in the Pamir mountains. Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have completed their parliamentary elections according to schedule, despite the American prognosis that Central Asia is ripe for revolution.
Actually, Tajikistan was not quite on the revolutionary calendar. The democratic choice in Tajikistan - if President Imomali Rahmonov's People's Democratic Party of Tajikistan had indeed been unseated in the February 27 elections - lay between the Communist Party and the Islamic Renaissance Party. To say the least, neither of these opposition political parties would have been an agreeable partner for the "transformationalists" in Washington. Besides, Rahmonov had never stepped on American toes. Tajikistan was also too much of a "basket case" from the American point of view - the effort was simply not worth the while.
In fact, Tajikistan ought to be the litmus test of ultimate American intentions in the Central Asian region. It ought to be in the first circle of American regional policy. It is the only country where an avowedly Islamic party stands legally registered as part of democratic life. For the neo-conservatives in Washington, Tajikistan ought to be an absorbing crucible where a certain churning dear to their thought processes is going on. Besides, from a practical angle, the country borders Afghanistan, where 18,000 American troops remain billeted for the foreseeable future engaged in an indeterminate war. The security and stability of Afghanistan and Tajikistan are inter-connected. Tajikistan is also a major gateway for the Afghan opium trade. Moreover, Tajikistan impinges on the complex experimentations with social engineering and representative rule currently under way in Afghanistan.
Šaltinis:
atimes.com
Copying, publishing, announcing any information from the News.lt portal without written permission of News.lt editorial office is prohibited.
The most popular articles
EU ends 'roaming rip-off’' with calling, texting and surfing abroad all to become cheaper
more »
British comedian Sacha Baron Cohen unleashes Bruno on the world. After Borat and Ali G, the gay Austrian fashion reporter is Cohen's latest character.
more »
There were no signs of an economic downturn at Moscow's Millionaire Summer Fair.
more »
This summer Bank SNORAS, owning the largest customer service network in Vilnius region, will add 2 more mini-banks to the customer service subdivision network in Vilnius and Lentvaris.
more »
When booking a holiday or planning a daytrip many people check out restaurants, sight-seeing and beaches before they leave.
more »
In Eritrea, women and children spend much of their day collecting fuel. Now, thanks to the Irish Countrywomen's Association (ICA), and the ingenuity of an Eritrean inventor, carbon-efficient stoves are being installed in their homes.
more »
As the world mourns Michael Jackson, the pop star proves that he deserved the rank of King of Pop.
more »
The twin sisters met and fell in love with identical twin brothers, Dmitry and Alexei. Then when it came to planning their wedding day - they decided what better way to celebrate - then all together.
more »
Thousands of women hold a massive rally in India protesting against an increasing number of abortions. In some areas of India an estimated 2,000 unborn girls are illegally aborted every day in India, according to the United Nations.
more »
“Green week” expected to get people talking about environmental issues between 23 and 26 June.
more »