Russia and United States team up in Afghanistan

After reading the New York Times and MSNBC, it is interesting to learn that many of the issues relating to the Cold War still exists today between Russia and the United States. Examples relating to the articles include “Kyrgyzstan Says It Will Close U.S. Base” and “Russia: We'll help U.S. stabilize Afghanistan.” The president of Kyrgyzstan, Kurmanbek Bakiyev, was in Moscow in order to gain financial support as a result of shutting down the U.S. air base.
The country of Kyrgyzstan is in debt to Russia, yet they were receiving more than $2 billion dollars from them. As a result, the base, that was vital to the U.S. in Afghanistan territory, was closed in Kyrgyzstan. Although there were several American troops at the base, which opened in 2001, Kyrgyzstan needed Moscow’s approval. Unfortunately, Russia was bothered by the fact that Americans had a presence on the air base. This situation relates back to the Cold War and the different way of thinking between countries; democracy versus communism. Along with communist Russia, China was not thrilled with the U.S. presence at the air base.
Although there is some tension between Russia and the U.S., the two countries, along with others will cooperate together in order to fight terrorism in Afghanistan. Relating back to the Cold War theory, Russia feels that Afghanistan is becoming too much of a democracy as a direct result of the United States.
Along with working with Russia, Barack Obama is working with Russia on the missile defense issues in the Czech Republic and Poland. Therefore, with possible tension arising between two leading countries, the U.S. and Russia, global security could unite the two, despite their differences.

- By Rachel Rovner