U.S. to Leave Uzbek Air Base

This looks like good news. In the wake of the deal to keep our air bases in Kirghizstan, I’d suspect that the U.S. felt itself in a better position to unburden itself of a repugnant ally, or to demand that Uzbekistan reform itself meaningfully. I’m only speculating on what the terms of this conversation were, but the fact that it ended in disagreement on the U.S. role in supporting that regime is a very good sign that this administration is prepared to sacrifice realpolitik for principle.

The downsides? First, the Tajik government isn’t much less repressive than the Uzbek government. Second, the shape of the new regime in Kirghizstan is still somewhat indeterminate.

Update: Great minds think alike.