afghanistan

The United States was on the verge of being kicked out of its only military outpost in Russia's historic backyard after Kyrgyzstan Friday gave U.S. forces six months to vacate an air base that serves as a key supply hub for troops in Afghanistan.

The Manas base, created shortly after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, at first served as a symbol of what seemed like a budding strategic partnership between the U.S. and Russia.

Good, we're spread too thin anyhow. We shouldn't need all of these military bases for several reasons.

Parliamentarian Shukria Barakzai says she has an innovative amendment to Washington's planned injection of up to 30,000 new troops here.

"Send us 30,000 scholars instead. Or 30,000 engineers. But don't send more troops -- it will just bring more violence."

Ms. Barakzai is among the growing number of Afghans -- especially in the Pashtun south -- who oppose a troop increase here, posing what could be the biggest challenge to the Obama administration's stabilization strategy.