Watching the Middle East and north Africa, Central Asia’s rulers see no pressing reason to fret

mukhamadi

Transitions in China and Russia in 1912 ? You must be dreaming. Orderly continuation of autocracy as usual. As to the USA - the real transiion will be its withdrawal from a costly Afghanistan venture. They couldn't care less who runs Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, etc. as long as these people can be bribed.....

It would be nice to smell jasmine in North Korea, but its import is prohibited by UN sanctions...

An organized uprising in many (or all) of these Central Asian countries may now be beyond their capacity. There has been an ongoing brain drain in this region for quite some time. It is quite difficult for an intellectual to fulfill their potential, or even their curiosity, in this area of the world, and millions have left for greener academic (and economic) pastures. To overthrow such regimes takes more than brute force - it takes an advanced measure of strategic organization and action. The lack of a significant presence of those capable of such a task, coupled with a limited and censored communications infrastructure, only serves to further entrench such long-standing regimes.

To make a change....to move forward....to light a candle....to wake up the Sun...to put a smile on the face of a child.......You must start with LOVE... ,THE ONE INGRIDIENT ,THAT PUTS LIFE IT'S BEST FORM.

Sure am glad that I went to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in the fall of 2007 and had a pleasant uneventful big game hunting trip.

Jer_X/

What kind of logic is that? North Korea's freedom is impeded not by its ghastly regime but by its hostile outside forces? Have you even considered why North Korea has so many enemies? Do you even know the history? The Aung San Memorial Bombing? KAL 707 terrorist attack?

Anything to make your opinion somehow contrarian, eh? And the people who recommend your non-sensical comment... Forgive my French, but you guys are idiots.

Over time China can count on their resources to fuel its growth. Otherwise no one cares about the "stans".

It is also worth to note that US, China and Russia (the main partners and guarantors of Kazakhstani statehood) will be going through political transition in 2012. For a country with lack of political institutions, with ageing leader and economy affected by the crisis, the synchronised power transfer in 2012 could be too risky.

I think it may also be worth noting that very few people in Europe or America can put their finger on a map and find a "nastystan" instantaneously (make an exception for Afghanistan). Americans know where nations like Egypt and Saudi Arabia are, while the Europe is a small sea away from North Africa. This makes it easier to help nudge the Jasmine Revolution, even at a low level.

The "nastystan" autocrats have succeeded in isolating their nations from the western world, with a little help from geography.

The Imperialists have never given up hope to control the rich resources in Central Asia, and could be embarking in a New Great Game using the same Jasmine tea used by the revolting Ragheads.

Fortunately the Cronys there have been able to balance the encroaching Imperialism with Russian and Chinese interests. As long these are imported Jasmine, the autocrats should not fret too much about the imperialist ambition.

happyfish18:

That's the second time today I've seen that "ragheads" comment from you. For all your railing against the "Imperialists" and "Hegemon", your contempt of members of the third world is appalling.