The power struggle between Russian and the U.S. heats up in Central Asia
The Central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan has threatened to kick American troops out of its vitally strategic Manas air base, which the United States uses to ferry soldiers and supplies in and out of Afghanistan, unless the United States agrees to pay more for its use. The United States and Russia have been vying for influence in Kyrgyzstan and other states in the region; Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev made the threat following talks with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in which Russia offered Kyrgyzstan more than $2 billion in loans and financial aid.