The U.S. military could sustain its combat and humanitarian operations in Afghanistan even if it lost access to a key air base in neighboring Uzbekistan, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Monday at the outset of a three-day tour of the region, according to AP. «We're always thinking ahead. We'll be fine,» Rumsfeld told reporters traveling with him from Washington. A frequent visitor to Central Asia since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Rumsfeld arrived here amid growing questions about the U.S. government's longer-term intentions. The Uzbek government has raised doubt about continued U.S. access to Karshi-Khanabad air base, which has been used as a staging point for operations in Afghanistan since the start of the war in October 2001. In Bishkek, Rumsfeld was scheduled to meet Tuesday with newly elected President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and his acting minister of defense, Gen. Maj. Ismail Isakov. It is Rumsfeld's second visit in four months to this former Soviet republic of 5 million people, which also hosts a Russian base. The United States has about 1,000 troops stationed at Manas International Airport, near the Kyrgyz capital, to support the reception of tons of air cargo for transshipment to U.S. forces in Afghanistan. --SP 2314 Local Time 2014 GMT
