Traditionally, countries such as Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and
Afghanistan - collectively known as the "STANS", are considered to be the embodiment of desperate, backward, currupt, morally and financially bankrupt states. The idea of the "
banana republic" is along the same lines. Given the militaristic foreign policies of the USA in recent years, its current economic woes appear to some observers as a fitting comeuppance. And, it is believed that the root cause of
the present difficulties lies in precisely those attributes that are commonly assigned to the "STANS". Thus, the term "Yankistan" serves to describe the USA in terms of "desperate, backward, currupt, morally and financially bankrupt". Of course, the heightened engagement of the USA in Central Asia, the home of many "stans", is the chief reason why "Yankistan" is used in this context.
Examples of this term in use occur:
1. At the China Daily blog, where it is said:
BROKE & CRASHED yankistan ready to kiss Russia arse" - This is in
reference to the US offer to "reset" relations with Russia.
2. The Russian Pravda.ru features:
Desperate yankistan tries to launch "color revolution" in Kirgizstan - This is in reference to the alleged role of the USA in inciting popular discontent with the Kyrgyz government in a supposed effort to achieve regime change, and a government that will allow the US to maintain its Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan - that is presently used in the
War on Terror: in
Afghanistan!