Comments on: The Legitimizing Power of Observers, etc. http://registan.net/index.php/2007/02/15/the-legitimizing-power-of-observers-etc/ All Central Asia, All The Time Fri, 25 May 2012 03:15:21 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Nathan http://registan.net/index.php/2007/02/15/the-legitimizing-power-of-observers-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-352775 Nathan Fri, 16 Feb 2007 18:20:12 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/02/15/the-legitimizing-power-of-observers-etc/#comment-352775 And now there is an article about the president meeting Richard Boucher up at <a href="http://www.turkmenistan.gov.tm/politika/pol&ofic.htm" rel="nofollow">the government website.</a> And now there is an article about the president meeting Richard Boucher up at the government website.

]]> By: Nathan http://registan.net/index.php/2007/02/15/the-legitimizing-power-of-observers-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-352722 Nathan Fri, 16 Feb 2007 17:12:04 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/02/15/the-legitimizing-power-of-observers-etc/#comment-352722 Looking back now that I've seen more of who was and was not there, I think that's what is interesting is that the Turkmen government webpage didn't say anything about the US and European officials who were on hand. The US Undersecretary for the region was there for the inauguration. Granted, he's not cabinet level, but I'm surprised there was no mention of him. Looking back now that I’ve seen more of who was and was not there, I think that’s what is interesting is that the Turkmen government webpage didn’t say anything about the US and European officials who were on hand. The US Undersecretary for the region was there for the inauguration. Granted, he’s not cabinet level, but I’m surprised there was no mention of him.

]]> By: Andy http://registan.net/index.php/2007/02/15/the-legitimizing-power-of-observers-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-352714 Andy Fri, 16 Feb 2007 17:07:22 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/02/15/the-legitimizing-power-of-observers-etc/#comment-352714 <i>"Nobody from the West…"</i> True, although Georgia and (less so now) Ukraine are supposed to be two of the former Soviet Union's shining democratic lights, and they seemed happy enough to endorse Berdymuhammedov's victory. “Nobody from the West…”

True, although Georgia and (less so now) Ukraine are supposed to be two of the former Soviet Union’s shining democratic lights, and they seemed happy enough to endorse Berdymuhammedov’s victory.

]]> By: Brian http://registan.net/index.php/2007/02/15/the-legitimizing-power-of-observers-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-351928 Brian Thu, 15 Feb 2007 18:16:36 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/02/15/the-legitimizing-power-of-observers-etc/#comment-351928 I wonder if the American Dental Association sent a representative. It could be a real breakthrough for the floss industry in Central Asia. I wonder if the American Dental Association sent a representative.

It could be a real breakthrough for the floss industry in Central Asia.

]]> By: Nathan http://registan.net/index.php/2007/02/15/the-legitimizing-power-of-observers-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-351828 Nathan Thu, 15 Feb 2007 17:07:21 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/02/15/the-legitimizing-power-of-observers-etc/#comment-351828 I knew that if I threw that out there, someone would correct me if there were other dentist heads of state. Still, he should go for it to see if Bashar al-Assad freaks out the way Turkey's government did when Niyazov tried to use his first choice, "Ataturk." I think you're right that not courting Turkmenistan is idiotic for the West. I do believe that there were officials that were sent, but they weren't particularly prominent. I knew that if I threw that out there, someone would correct me if there were other dentist heads of state. Still, he should go for it to see if Bashar al-Assad freaks out the way Turkey’s government did when Niyazov tried to use his first choice, “Ataturk.”

I think you’re right that not courting Turkmenistan is idiotic for the West. I do believe that there were officials that were sent, but they weren’t particularly prominent.

]]> By: Joshua Foust http://registan.net/index.php/2007/02/15/the-legitimizing-power-of-observers-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-351826 Joshua Foust Thu, 15 Feb 2007 16:57:41 +0000 http://www.registan.net/index.php/2007/02/15/the-legitimizing-power-of-observers-etc/#comment-351826 With regards to the name "Stomatologbashi": he may not be. Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, is also a dentist. So I guess how you measure their relative power would determine which one is really the most powerful dentist in the world. Afterall, Turkmenistan doesn't have anything analogous to the occupation of Lebanon, the Hizbollah-Israeli war, or the accusations of supporting the Iraqi insurgency to deal with. And not to toot my own horn, but I still think for the West, and the U.S. in particular not to actively court favor with Berdimuhammedov (Birdie?) is idiotic. His ascension represents an enormous opportunity to reshape energy politics in Asia and Europe. With regards to the name “Stomatologbashi”: he may not be. Bashar al-Assad, the President of Syria, is also a dentist. So I guess how you measure their relative power would determine which one is really the most powerful dentist in the world. Afterall, Turkmenistan doesn’t have anything analogous to the occupation of Lebanon, the Hizbollah-Israeli war, or the accusations of supporting the Iraqi insurgency to deal with.

And not to toot my own horn, but I still think for the West, and the U.S. in particular not to actively court favor with Berdimuhammedov (Birdie?) is idiotic. His ascension represents an enormous opportunity to reshape energy politics in Asia and Europe.

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