TURKESTAN REGION

• A Jewish businessman's rise to prominence in Kazakhstan has raised the profile and prestige of the country's small Jewish community.

• Joe recently noted, with caution, that Kyrgyzstan foiled a plutonium sale. The caution turned out to be on the mark. The "60 containers" turned out to be 55 Soviet-made smoke detectors.

• The United States, the UK, and France all recently announced plans to expand military cooperation with Kyrgyzstan.

• Also in Kyrgyzstan, students from the Islamic departments of several universities protested a new health book put out by the Ministry of Education. Why? The book frankly disscusses AIDS and the author is Jewish.

• A "will they or won't they" story finally comes to an end as Russia signs a base deal with Tajikistan that leaves the 201st Motorized Rifle Division in the country permanently. This division has been a prominent player in Tajik politics.

• There's a lot more to the new base story though. It was but a part of a package of deals concerning a wide variety of issues. Russia will take a larger role in the Tajik energy sector and become owner of Okno, a space-monitoring facility. Also, Russia granted legal status to the large number of Tajiks working in Russia.

• In other base news, India's first foreign military base, 10 km outside of the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, will be operational by year's end.

• Uzbeks are becoming increasingly prominent in the ranks of terrorist groups operating along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. In fact, they are now becoming Al Qaeda's bodyguards.

• Uzbekistan recently negotiated an individual plan with the Partnership For Peace. In essence, Uzbekistan is seeking to expand its cooperation with NATO.

• While I'm skeptical of many forms of foreign aid, I am a huge supporter of various kinds of exchanges. Two Oregon State University animal scientists travelled to Uzbekistan to try to help straighten out the mess that is the Uzbek cattle sector. Meanwhile, several Uzbeks travelled to Moses Lake, WA to learn how private farms operate.

• Internet use is reportedly up in Uzbekistan, and our man on the scene shares his thoughts after a year abroad.

• The British ambassador to Uzbekistan, Craig Murray, has long been something of a headache for both Uzbekistan and the UK. Both his (I'm sad to say typical for expats in Uzbekistan) behavior and his tendency to speak bluntly about Uzbekistan have caused troubles on both ends of the relationship. Mr. Murray finally lost his position after a memo criticizing the British government for accepting Uzbek intelligence obtained through torture (for more stories than is probably health, see our October archive). While much of the commentariat supports him, as they did last time he ran into trouble, the Times Online ties everying all up and argues that right or wrong, it was time for Murray to go.

• Turkmenistan has announced changes to its gas export strategies that undermine Russian efforts to create and lead a "Eurasian OPEC for gas."

CAUCASUS REGION

• Georgia is having an everything must go sale, selling off state assets left and right.

• As if trying to stamp out corruption in Georgia weren't already difficult enough... A disputed election in the breakaway region of Abkhazia is reportedly undermining Georgian efforts to promote the rule of law.

• Since the Beslan attack, Russia has kept its Caucasus border locked tight. Many in Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia are upset by the move. Armenia is so upset with Russia, in fact, that it is may be causing significant harm to the relationship between the two.

• RFE/RL takes a brief look at energy geopolitics in the Caspian region.

AFGHANISTAN

• In case you missed it, check out the good news from Afghanistan, much of which covers the historic election last weekend.

• As for other reactions to the election, the Commissar has the perfect headline, Allah notes that it was a tough day for the mujahideen, and amid his remarks, Bill at INDC Journal has a way that you can help honor the memory of one of those who helped make the election possible.

• Though the election itself was mostly free of violence, there have been attacks on election workers carrying ballots to Kabul.

• With 20% of the votes counted, Hamid Karzai enjoys a comfortable lead.

• The US general in charge of training Afghanistan's new army says that it is a match for the Taliban and is winning support from the Afghan people.

LIGHTER FARE

• Super-intelligent mutant lab rats are on the loose in Kyrgyzstan. Poison only makes them stronger (really).