Uzbekistan\'s presidential press service announced on 18 March that U.S. President George W. Bush sent a letter to President Islam Karimov thanking him and his government for Uzbekistan\'s contribution to the fight against international terrorism. The letter specifically mentioned Uzbekistan\'s decision to allow the international antiterrorism coalition to use the military airbase at Khanabad to support its actions in Afghanistan and went on to assert that the world is now facing the challenge of a combination of weapons of mass destruction, terrorism, and countries sponsoring and encouraging terrorism. Bush\'s letter also said that success in meeting this challenge depends on the broad involvement of the international community. Uzbek officials have fully supported the United States in its handling of the Iraq crisis. (uzreport.com)