The Pentagon is balking at demands by Kyrgyzstan that the US military pay for past use of Manas Air Base, a hub for flights supporting Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. (DR, 10/13/05) The country wants $80 million to compensate for previous payments made—arguing that fuel companies tied to former President Askar Akayev embezzled the money out of the country. DOD isn’t interested in paying for the same thing twice, however. “Any possible misappropriation of funds is an internal Kyrgyz matter,” Pentagon Spokesman Bryan Whitman told the London Financial Times.
The Air Force won’t finalize a new deal with Boeing for another 75 KC-46 tankers until some of the “deficiencies” with the refueler are resolved, new Vice Chief of Staff Gen. John D. Lamontagne told lawmakers March 4.