Congress passed a measure to hold off on paying the nearly $23 million that Uzbekistan said the US owed for use of the Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, but the Pentagon must not have gotten the memo. (Yes, this is the base known as K2 that we got kicked out of. (DR 08/30/05) The “delay the payment” legislation is part of a bill that lawmakers are still working. However, Pentagon officials say they paid the money last week.
Navy Adm. Samuel J. Paparo Jr. assumed leadership of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, succeeding Navy Adm. John Aquilino at a change of command ceremony, urging action amid China's “increasing intrusive and expansionist claims,” on May 3