(CNN) -- The United States operates an air base in Kyrgyzstan. The keystone of the Pentagon's Northern Distribution Network, it keeps essential matériel moving into Afghanistan for NATO troops, notwithstanding steady disruption on the roads out of Pakistan. Russia, which insists that Kyrgyzstan is in its "sphere of influence" and claims a special right to protect ethnic Russians living there, has its own air base only a few miles away from the one used by the Americans. In theory, both of these installations serve the mutual security interests of Kyrgyzstan and its great power allies. In theory, the bases demonstrate shared security interests between Russia, the United States and Kyrgyzstan. Today Kyrgyzstan faces the most severe crisis of its history -- and the United States and Russia should act together to help alleviate it.
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Kyrgyzstan violence has claimed many lives, forced many from their homes
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Scott Horton, Baktybek Abdrisaev say U.S., Russia have done little in response
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They say the two nations have responsibility to help ease the suffering
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Coordinated action could end the humanitarian crisis, they say
But so far @placeholder and Russia have offered little beyond token gestures.