Manas air base, located near Bishkek, has been an important hub supporting the war effort in Afghanistan since the U.S. military opened it in December 2001. Since then, Manas's operations have been threatened by political instability more than once. The root of these recurring basing headaches lies in the fact that the United States simply lacks the authority to establish a military presence in Central Asia. But paying off the Kyrgyz is a short-term solution that will backfire in the long term. Instead, to protect Manas further down the road, the United States must convince the Kyrgyz people that it is interested in more than a transactional relationship.