Reuters quotes Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center Director John E. Herbst on how Uzbekistani President Islam Karimov’s relationship has been strained with the United States because of President Karimov’s troubled human rights record:
“It’s a natural geopolitical alliance but it’s complicated because of his human rights record,” says John Herbst, U.S. ambassador to Uzbekistan from 2000-2003. “His authoritarian regime is not very consistent with our principles.”