Defense Secretary Gates says US has options to Kyrgyzstan air base, but they aren’t great

Gates: Options to Kyrgyzstan air base aren’t great

ABOARD A MILITARY AIRCRAFT — Defense Secretary Robert Gates says the U.S. has other options to its air base in Kyrgyzstan, which is used to ferry troops and supplies into Afghanistan, but none is ideal.

Gates said Tuesday the U.S. explored alternatives last year when it was negotiating a deal to use the base with the Kyrgyz government, which last week was ousted by protesters.

Those alternatives are “more expensive and more challenging,” Gates told reporters en route to South America to meet with leaders in Peru and Colombia.

Gates said operations in Afghanistan have not been hampered by the turmoil in Kyrgyzstan.

The U.S. military said troop transports to and from Afghanistan were suspended last week at the Manas air base, though refueling flights continue.