Comments on: US & Russia Block NATO Call for Andijon Inquiry

By: TC

TC — Thu, 16 Jun 2005 04:03:57 +0000

In theory, if the US supported Civil Society more in Uzbekistan, it would be a step in the right direction. In practice, Civil Society in Uzbekistan is a farce. It is neither civil nor society–discussed! I liken it to the dotcom era. The INGOs function (ed) as the venture capitalist. The local NGOs are/were the dotcoms (ala Pets.com). Tashkent was Silicone Alley. Essentially, all of these local NGO Directors went to these seminars in the capital just to be seen. A vast majority of these ‘Civil Society’ leaders don’t have a clue what ‘Civil Society’ is. (The ones that I know of who do, I can count on one hand.) They are mainly displaced, Russified members of the nomenklatura who: a) have a deep-seeded contempt of the Uzbek people, who they claim to advocate and represent (at least to the Western INGOs anyway) and b) are just in it strictly for the money. In light of the restrictions imposed on the local NGOs (via the Women’s Committee and Banking Board presiding over grants), and the virtual exile of the INGOS who essentially bankroll Civil Society in Uzbekistan, the sector has only a handful of months left (at best). In a dysfunctional way, the preventative restrictions that the Uzbek government has imposed on the Civil Society are going to backfire. If anything, it will invigorate Civil Society and make it into the functional opposition faction that it should be. So once Civil Society in Uzbekistan becomes a real one, the US can rally behind it, and their will be the possibility of reform in our lifetime.

By: Robert

Robert — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 21:56:18 +0000

Great post Nathan — telling it like it is. The idealistic democracy doctrine needs an approach that is real and implemented well, but the the DoD is more interested in its influence in policy and its budget. Bush definitely should have reigned in on this and set the priorities straight early on. These things just don’t work themselves out automatically.

By: Registan.net » State Stuck Holding the Mop

Registan.net » State Stuck Holding the Mop — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 21:32:08 +0000

[...] ence notified me that the White House and State Department are doing damage control on the Defense Department story. Denying any Pentagon foot-dragging, the Bush administration says it is organizing inte [...]

By: Mark

Mark — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 19:39:44 +0000

Hey I thought this was ‘Nathan and the Bush boys’.

Actually, I think the ‘Bush Doctrine’ is a good idea but the excution has been less than stellar.

By: The Indepundit

The Indepundit — Tue, 14 Jun 2005 16:57:37 +0000

Karimov Gets a Pass?

THIS IS DISAPPOINTING: Defense officials from Russia and the United States last week helped block a new demand for an international probe into the Uzbekistan government’s shooting of hundreds of protesters last month, according to U.S. and diplomatic …