RADICAL ISLAMIST FUNDAMENTALISM AND EXTREMISM AND THE IMPACT OF U.S. FOREIGN POLICY IN UZBEKISTAN AND CENTRAL ASIA

The author analyzes U.S. foreign policy in Central Asia, focusing on Uzbekistan. The author argues that the U.S. continues to provide support to the oppressive Karimov regime, much as it did with oppressive regimes in the Middle East during the Cold War. By supporting oppressive regimes in the Middle East during the Cold War, the U.S. created a “swamp” of hatred and animosity toward itself amongst Muslims. This worked to create a large number of radical Islamist fundamentalists who preach hatred of the U.S. and recruit or become terrorists. The author provides evidence that the U.S. is making the same mistakes in its strategy of foreign policy engagement with Uzbekistan, thus creating a new “swamp” of terrorism in Central Asia.