Uzbekistan Payment

From the Washington Post today:

Over congressional objections, the Pentagon intends to pay Uzbekistan almost $23 million for past use of its military base from which U.S. forces were recently told to leave, according to congressional and administration officials.

"It's our practice to pay our bills," said Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman, saying the payment is for "goods and services previously rendered."

Ah, yes. Let it never be said that the Pentagon doesn't pay its bills. Or that it would even consider suspending remuneration for gross human rights violations.

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Note: In addition to the Reuters article just above, I'd also recommend Galima Bukharbaeva's op-ed in today's IHT. An Uzbeki journalist, Bukharbaeva witnessed the massacre in Andijon last May and was forced into exile after reporting on it in the international media.