$1 trillion in minerals discovered in Afghanistan

[Sasaki Kojiro]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/wo...ls.html?emc=na

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.

Can someone more informed than me explain what this will lead to? Is it a great thing for Afghanistan?

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/wo...ls.html?emc=na



Can someone more informed than me explain what this will lead to? Is it a great thing for Afghanistan?

It will lead to an even more protracted war, as well as increased Russian and Chinese interest; it will also almost certainly mean yet another military dictatorship, backed by one of the above.

To say nothing of the envirnmental damage caused by strip mining.

[Beskar]

Can someone more informed than me explain what this will lead to? Is it a great thing for Afghanistan?

If it is true, it means there is an abundance of potentional wealth and investment. However, the problems lie in who controls these investments, as it might end up being American multinationalists, who only give a small slice to the Afghanistan authorities. Also, it would spark interests of any of the local warlords, who want a slice of the pie as well.

It depends on how it is handled.

[Beskar]

To say nothing of the envirnmental damage caused by strip mining.

Luckily, Afghanistan doesn't have much of an "environment" in the first place. It is basically just desert and sand.

[gaelic cowboy]

This is basically a disaster for the Afghan people if it is true. The warlords will start up again and situation will be that the fighting will be funded by drugs and mining.

If you want to save Afghanistan bury that report in the biggest deepest bunker you can find.

[PanzerJaeger]

These are the times that I wish we were a more traditional empire. Afghanistan may turn a profit in the long run, but it would certainly not be moral to take it from the Afghan people. ()Hopefully we can at least secure some sweetheart contracts for American companies, but it looks like China is already beating us at that game. American values are so frustrating at times.

[drone]

It's bad for Afghanistan. The Soviets knew about a lot of this during their occupation, but couldn't exploit it. I'm sure US companies are salivating over this, but it will be to no avail. The Afghanis want us out, and will not allow resource exploitation without lots of casualties and expense. If anybody can get it, it will probably be China. Just look at a map, getting large quantities of ore out would be impossible. Landlocked nation with no rail infrastructure, and exceeding testy natives. It's going to make some warlords mighty rich though.

[Ice]

Anything that will turn the Afghan economy from that produces nothing other than raw opium, into something useful is a plus in my book.

[Prince Cobra]

It won't change anything. Like in many African countries that are rich with diamonds, silver and gold. And yes, the warlords may try to exploit it, so that they diversify their opium exports.

Military dictatorship... this is very hard to happen in Afghanistan for the simple reason of no centralised government.

[Fragony]

Uh oh, not good, not good at all

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Luckily, Afghanistan doesn't have much of an "environment" in the first place. It is basically just desert and sand.

Oh, of course they do.

You think there's nothing alive in the desert? Anyway, parts of Afganistan are potentially very fertile; they're just mismanged. Where do you think they grow all the Opium and Hash?

[Jolt]

It's going to make some warlords mighty rich though.

Nah.

[Fragony]

Going to make some warlords mighty powerful, this is really bad news for the common Afghan and the Isaf, this has corporate proxy warfare written all over it we better leave right now. Sorry Afghans you guys are so screwed now.

[Vladimir]

People here are treating this like oil. Unlike oil, extracting these minerals will require greater cooperation, infrastructure, and development.

Remember that all of you doomsayers are saying that a poor Afghanistan is good.

[edyzmedieval]

This.Is.Very.Bad

I'm not saying it's doom for the Afghans, I'm just saying the war will be even more vicious than it is right now considering the Talibans are literally sitting atop huge resources.

[Slyspy]

This won't stop Afghanistan being poor.

[rory_20_uk]

Right, so the government can pay for the troops helping in kind - as well as any monies already spent.

[Tellos Athenaios]

People here are treating this like oil. Unlike oil, extracting these minerals will require greater cooperation, infrastructure, and development.

Remember that all of you doomsayers are saying that a poor Afghanistan is good.

No the doom sayers probably mean that these deposits will be like the blood diamonds of Africa. Remember those? How much wealth did end up with the local people rather than Western arms industry?

[KukriKhan]

In other regional news, The Only American Actually Searching For OBL , a 40 or 50 or 52 year old (depending which report you read) California civilian construction guy, was arrested in Pakistan, after slipping away from his security guard.

The al-Qaeda leader is the world's most-wanted man, with the US offering a reward of up to $25m (£17m) for information leading to his capture.
'God is with me'

Police say Mr Faulkner, who is from California, arrived as a tourist in Chitral on 2 June and was assigned a security escort before vanishing on Monday evening.

[Skullheadhq]

He had a pistol, dagger and a sword and was carrying night-vision equipment as well as Christian literature.

Mr Khan said that when Faulkner was asked if he felt he had a chance of tracing Bin Laden, he replied: "God is with me, and I am confident I will be successful in killing him.

a 40 or 50 or 52 year old (depending which report you read) California civilian construction guy

Haha, I can already imagine him, the poor redneck in Pakistan.

[Fragony]

People here are treating this like oil. Unlike oil, extracting these minerals will require greater cooperation, infrastructure, and development.

Remember that all of you doomsayers are saying that a poor Afghanistan is good.

Uncomplicated is good and it's a mess enough as it is. How betrayed are they going to feel when none of this money ever reaches them. And it won't reach them they are sooooo screwed its going to eat them alive, hello to 20 more years of hell.

[Husar]

Wow, wasn't one of the problems in Afghanistan that they have no jobs and all the unemployed people join the taliban because the taliban pay them?
This should be a possibility to give the people jobs so they can earn their money in an honest way and turn away from rich radicals. Of course that's not going to work if companies from other countries just invade with their own workforce and don't employ afghans.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Wow, wasn't one of the problems in Afghanistan that they have no jobs and all the unemployed people join the taliban because the taliban pay them?
This should be a possibility to give the people jobs so they can earn their money in an honest way and turn away from rich radicals. Of course that's not going to work if companies from other countries just invade with their own workforce and don't employ afghans.

Just ups the cost of the Taliban recruiting efforts. That will no doubt hit the pocketbooks of some Sauds and Emiratis a little harder, but that's merely an annoyance with China, Japan, Europe, and the USA shelling out the dollars. Sorry, I think that sounded cynical.....

[Fragony]

Wow, wasn't one of the problems in Afghanistan that they have no jobs and all the unemployed people join the taliban because the taliban pay them?
This should be a possibility to give the people jobs so they can earn their money in an honest way and turn away from rich radicals. Of course that's not going to work if companies from other countries just invade with their own workforce and don't employ afghans.

Gawd I am growing soft, but yes. Give them a fair chance at least we are fat enough as it is. Not just us I can think of a whole lot worse, but still. But it won't be us peeling their resources, China will, them beards might even start missing us.

[Ice]

No the doom sayers probably mean that these deposits will be like the blood diamonds of Africa. Remember those? How much wealth did end up with the local people rather than Western arms industry?

Apples and Oranges

Those African countries didn't have 120,000 NATO troops occupying the country to artificially prop up the government.

[Centurion1]

None of you reckon on the impact americas presence directly in the affairs of the region mean. Andof course taliban recruitment is going to suffer. Most afghanis will choose a stable legal job over being taliban trash.

[Vladimir]

Wow, wasn't one of the problems in Afghanistan that they have no jobs and all the unemployed people join the taliban because the taliban pay them?
This should be a possibility to give the people jobs so they can earn their money in an honest way and turn away from rich radicals. Of course that's not going to work if companies from other countries just invade with their own workforce and don't employ afghans.

Thank you.

This will also encourage the creation of skilled labor. It's cheaper to have the locals do the work.

[Husar]

Well, in some ways this will show now whether the people in power who claim they want to help Afghanistan, actually mean it or not, the west already has the country occupied of sorts but if we truly care about the afghans winning, gaining respect for democracy and stabilizing their own country then we shouldn't mind them working for Chinese companies either, free market and all that.
And heck, if one of dem warlords goes businessman and opens his own mining company, why not? Of course corruption etc. can cause problems but it still sounds better to me than the status quo.

[al Roumi]

Can someone more informed than me explain what this will lead to? Is it a great thing for Afghanistan?

This is great news! Afghanistan will get to be a new Siera Leone!

[Fragony]

Well, in some ways this will show now whether the people in power who claim they want to help Afghanistan, actually mean it or not, the west already has the country occupied of sorts but if we truly care about the afghans winning, gaining respect for democracy and stabilizing their own country then we shouldn't mind them working for Chinese companies either, free market and all that.
And heck, if one of dem warlords goes businessman and opens his own mining company, why not? Of course corruption etc. can cause problems but it still sounds better to me than the status quo.

I don't think that what anybody wants matters anymore, read MJD impressions, two guys who shot rival clan didn't think they did anything wrong. If I would be absolutely ruthless I'd use that. And now it turns out it's the richest soil on earth. Screwed, very.