So why is Iran bringing Kyrgyzstan, and Manas Air Base, into its allegations that the U.S. was supporting a Sunni extremist anti-Tehran group? Richard Weitz, sometime EurasiaNet contributor, writing in World Politics Review argues that it is to thwart U.S. influence in Central Asia:
A primary Iranian objective in Central Asia has been to keep governments in the region from aligning themselves with U.S. efforts to isolate Tehran or pressure the Iranian government to change its policies. Ideally, Tehran wants these governments to curtail the access that U.S. military forces have enjoyed in Central Asia since the September 2001 terrorist attacks against the United States:
[T]he Iranian government is seeking to exploit the incident to advance its geopolitical goals in Central Asia. Rigi's statement implied that the Americans sought bases in Central Asia not for their stated aim of defending the region against the Taliban and al-Qaida, but rather to wage a covert war against the Iranian government. Russian television has since quoted Kyrgyz citizens criticizing the continued American access to the base. English-language Russia Today cited Kyrgyz political analyst Toktogul Kakchekeev as saying, "It's sad that the U.S. air base has now become a transit corridor for pro-American militants from Sunni insurgent groups which organize attacks in Iran." In the past, some Russian officials have pressed Kyrgyzstan and other Central Asian governments to limit the U.S. military presence in their countries.
At a minimum, Iranian officials want to constrain the U.S. military's access to territory, airspace, or military facilities in Central Asia that could be used to attack Iran. Following the Uzbek government's decision in 2005 to expel all American military personnel from its territory, Kyrgyzstan has hosted the sole remaining U.S. military base in Central Asia at its Manas International Airport. The Kyrgyz authorities, under pressure from some foreign governments as well as disgruntled Kyrgyz citizens to end this arrangement, have repeatedly insisted that American military personnel are only allowed to use the facility to support only coalition operations in Afghanistan (i.e., not to facilitate military operations against Iran).
Rigi's accusations, the result of a coerced confession, ring as false as the statements that peaceful Iranian protesters have been forced to read on Iranian television since last June's disputed presidential elections. Unfortunately, opponents of the U.S. military presence in Central Asia will use the opportunity to try to decrease U.S. influence in Eurasia. But skillful American diplomacy should be able to parry stratagem.
This all could be true. Still, though, it doesn't consider the possibility that Rigi actually was on his way to Manas.
The RT piece Richard cites:
Joshua Kucera, a senior correspondent, is Eurasianet's former Turkey/Caucasus editor and has written for the site since 2007.
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