Azeris would see the world’s most powerful force as, in some sense, validating its government. For instance, does an attack on the Azeri gov’t, or a rebellion against it, now become a de facto attack on the USG?

Really? Because that’s not how it played out in Uzbekistan. And Azeris saw that. And Azeris saw how the whole relationship played out with Uzbekistan and there are still plenty of them who, despite the already existing US-Azeri military contacts, view the US as a force for democratization in the Caucasus. This, of course, has a lot to do with events next door in Georgia.

Josh, if I didn’t feel the need to write some posts and that it’s utterly futile to argue with you I’d go on. Suffice it to say though that I find it tiresome to argue against doctrinaire ideological arguments–especially doctrinaire leftism. They deal so little with facts and nuances and paint with such a broad brush that they reveal much more about he who makes the argument than they do about the reality of the situation.

Azerbaijan is unfree. Any basing arrangement there would play directly into the hands of the government at many levels.

Azeris would see the world’s most powerful force as, in some sense, validating its government. For instance, does an attack on the Azeri gov’t, or a rebellion against it, now become a de facto attack on the USG?

From the court of world opinion, where, admittedly, we get little play of late, American troops are seen as a stabilizing force in Azeri politics.

That’s ignoring the direct transfer of funds involved in basing, and the likely transfer of training expertise, both of which increase the potential lethality of the Azeri regime.

Internal and external legitimization in the American hegemonic system, increased funds and (likely) training to the military forces of a tyrant.

What a recipe you propose!

We have plenty we can gain by basing troops there, and close military contacts can be a powerful force for changing the nature of the Azeri state. Please don’t mistake your dimestore one-liners as well-informed political analysis.

What do we gain for putting a base there?

More money into the hands of an oil-rich despot?

There are other ways.