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Afghanistan Is Rich In Mineral Deposits!

by Ben Hoffman

WASHINGTON — The United States has discovered nearly $1 trillion in untapped mineral deposits in Afghanistan, far beyond any previously known reserves and enough to fundamentally alter the Afghan economy and perhaps the Afghan war itself, according to senior American government officials.

The previously unknown deposits — including huge veins of iron, copper, cobalt, gold and critical industrial metals like lithium — are so big and include so many minerals that are essential to modern industry that Afghanistan could eventually be transformed into one of the most important mining centers in the world, the United States officials believe.

An internal Pentagon memo, for example, states that Afghanistan could become the “Saudi Arabia of lithium,” a key raw material in the manufacture of batteries for laptops and BlackBerrys.

Read more…

So far, we’ve spent over a trillion dollars on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Maybe we can get some of that money back. Probably not. We didn’t get anything from Iraqi oil after all the money and lives we spent there.

Posted on June 13, 2010 at 10:03 PM in Education, On This Day, Opinion, Politics   |  RSS feed |   Reply   |   Trackback URL

19 Comments to “Afghanistan Is Rich In Mineral Deposits!”

    
  1. Indyfromaz
    June 14, 2010 at 7:44 AM

    Been reading Huffington post again have you..
    But barack better not doing anything about it because then he’ll be an evil, exploitive, capitalist pig!

    Reply
  2. Moe
    June 14, 2010 at 8:40 AM

    FROM the same story:
    “At the same time, American officials fear resource-hungry China will try to dominate the development of Afghanistan’s mineral wealth, which could upset the United States, given its heavy investment in the region. After winning the bid for its Aynak copper mine in Logar Province, China clearly wants more, American officials said. ”

    Lovely, I wonder who sent out the RFP’s? Our miltary maybe?

    Reply
    • Vern R. Kaine
      June 14, 2010 at 11:13 AM

      More proof of why we were really interested in Afghanistan, and just needed an excuse to go in there. So to all those who think we either a) never should have been there in the first place, or b) shouldn’t be there now, who of them wants to leave the entire country’s resources to China, or some other country OTHER than the US? By pulling out of there, that’s exactly what we’d be doing.

      Also, how concerned do you think China or Russia would be of Afghanistan’s human interests if their countries are the ones running their industries and their government?

      Reply
      • Moe
        June 14, 2010 at 2:22 PM

        Don’t worry Vern – we got Iraq’s oil, which is why we went in. That was the big prize.

        But given the current reality in Afghanistan, I think Russia or China might do a hell of a lot better on the human rights front.

        Mind you, I’d like to see us get the contacts.

        I don’t think we went ot aFghanistan for mercenary reasons. I think we did it without thinking too much but it was pure revenge for 9/11,

      • Vern R. Kaine
        June 14, 2010 at 2:33 PM

        [But given the current reality in Afghanistan, I think Russia or China might do a hell of a lot better on the human rights front.]
        Based on what Russia did there the first time and what China’s allowing under their nose in Africa right now, we’ll have to disagree there, Moe. 🙂

        It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.

      • Moe
        June 14, 2010 at 3:26 PM

        hearing more about this mineral find – I guess it’s really huge. So yeah, watching it play out will be something.

  3. The Arbourist
    June 14, 2010 at 3:27 PM

    A radical notion, lets see the Afghani people enrich their country by selling their resources to whomever they wish. Or even not sell them at all.

    Or did we want to abandon the premise that Afghanistan is a independent state that has a say in its internal affairs?

    Reply
    • Vern R. Kaine
      June 14, 2010 at 4:41 PM

      That would be ideal, mirroring mineral relationships that we have with any other civilized country, but at this point do you actually trust the Afghans to be able to do anything for themselves? I don’t. Even with our own “puppet” in there running things, it appears we can still can be out-bribed and out-foxed for the contracts. And do you think the Afghans would care about sustainability of any kind at this point?

      I would love to see a free, independent, and self-sufficient Afghanistan, but I think it would take them way too long to get there on their own.

      Reply
    • Ben Hoffman
      June 14, 2010 at 5:59 PM

      [A radical notion, lets see the Afghani people enrich their country by selling their resources to whomever they wish. Or even not sell them at all.]

      Good luck with that. Afghanistan has one of the most corrupt governments in the world, second only to Somalia.

      Reply
  4. Alan Scott
    June 14, 2010 at 8:24 PM

    Afghanistan historically was only of importance because it bordered other more important territories. Within, it basically had nothing anyone would want. Being a wasteland it was perfect for drug gangsters and terrorists.

    Hopefully with the mineral wealth the various clans will have other occupations besides drugs and terrorism. I know you lefties hate that capitalists will come in and steal from the poor Afghanis. However, capitalists, as the name implies, supply ” capital “. With out which a $trillion worth of minerals is worth a big fat zero .

    Wouldn’t it be funny as hell if capitalists from America could beat the Russians and Chinese to a sliver of that wealth. Wouldn’t it be funny as hell if it happened under President Obama.

    Reply
  5. djpnz
    June 15, 2010 at 2:37 AM

    …and there we all were thinking that the United States went into Iraq and Afghanistan for the good of civilisation…

    Reply
  6. Alan Scott
    June 15, 2010 at 5:36 AM

    Arbourist,

    ” Are you sure Moe? Agreeing with Alan is one of first signs of the Apocalypse ”

    But you do not believe in the Apocalypse. That’s only for us Jesus freaks.

    Reply
    • The Arbourist
      June 15, 2010 at 5:51 PM

      But you do not believe in the Apocalypse. That’s only for us Jesus freaks.

      I do not have to ‘believe’ in something to make reference to it. I mean, am I not allowed to talk about Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy and Zeus either? :>

      Anyways, the actual end times are due when Vern and I agree on the general utility of Unions.

      We’re safe for a long time, let me assure you. 🙂

      Reply
  7. Fascist Hippy
    August 24, 2010 at 5:31 PM

    “WASHINGTON — The United States has discovered nearly $1 trillion in untapped mineral deposits in Afghanistan”.

    The United States has discovered my ass, WTF do you think the Russians were doing there in 1979?

    Reply
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