Speaking of Afghanistan, with nothing but bad news coming out of there lately, I find the timing of the announcement of these "previously unknown" and "newly discovered" mineral deposits just a little too convenient. Mostly because they are neither previously unknown nor newly discovered. Sounds to me like a good excuse reason for us to stay indefinitely.
But later in the article it says that in 2004 American geologists "stumbled upon" some old charts and data that had been compiled by Soviet mining experts during their occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980's.
So why release it now? Something's rotten in Kabul---and at the Pentagon. For instance:
Since when did the Pentagon get into the mineral development business? I smell another round of no-bid contracts in the near future. Does Halliburton do mining?
"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.
[...]
The value of the newly discovered mineral deposits dwarfs the size of Afghanistan's existing war-bedraggled economy, which is based largely on opium production and narcotics trafficking as well as aid from the United States and other industrialized countries."
But later in the article it says that in 2004 American geologists "stumbled upon" some old charts and data that had been compiled by Soviet mining experts during their occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980's.
"Armed with the old Russian charts, the United States Geological Survey began a series of aerial surveys of Afghanistan's mineral resources in 2006, using advanced gravity and magnetic measuring equipment attached to an old Navy Orion P-3 aircraft that flew over about 70 percent of the country.
The data from those flights was so promising that in 2007, the geologists returned for an even more sophisticated study, using an old British bomber equipped with instruments that offered a three-dimensional profile of mineral deposits below the earth's surface. It was the most comprehensive geologic survey of Afghanistan ever conducted.
The handful of American geologists who pored over the new data said the results were astonishing.
But the results gathered dust for two more years, ignored by officials in both the American and Afghan governments."
So why release it now? Something's rotten in Kabul---and at the Pentagon. For instance:
"The Pentagon task force has already started trying to help the Afghans set up a system to deal with mineral development. International accounting firms that have expertise in mining contracts have been hired to consult with the Afghan Ministry of Mines, and technical data is being prepared to turn over to multinational mining companies and other potential foreign investors. The Pentagon is helping Afghan officials arrange to start seeking bids on mineral rights by next fall, officials said."
Since when did the Pentagon get into the mineral development business? I smell another round of no-bid contracts in the near future. Does Halliburton do mining?
I seriously doubt that any pet rocks will be found in the course of further examination of Afghan treasure...
So how many American lives is each ton of ore worth?
Do I hear three? Three from US Silver.
Gimmee gimmee a four. Do I hear four? Four from Massey Energy.
Can you give me five? Do I hear five? Five from Anaconda!
How about six lives? Six lives, six lives. Come on folks, six lives isn't that much. Do I hear six? Six lives from Halliburton. Thank you Mr. Cheney.
Six lives, seven lives, how high do we go?
I agree that the only thing worse than the U.S. taking the job of Afghan Minerals Management Services (AMMS) "project manager" is letting somebody ELSE do it.
The Times article also noted that China (what a surprise) has already raped the country by bribing a local official for exclusive rights to a copper mine, at a fire sale price too, I'm sure. And we know that China will take the utmost care with proper local rights, royalty payments, and concern for the environment, right?
As unseemly as it sounds for the US to help the Afghans with managing their natural resources, consider the alternatives in a free for all. We may not be wearing a pristine white hat, but it's a hell of a lighter shade of black than the alternative hats in the ring (as long as that dick Cheney doesn't manage to weasel his way back in).
The Times article also noted that China (what a surprise) has already raped the country by bribing a local official for exclusive rights to a copper mine, at a fire sale price too, I'm sure. And we know that China will take the utmost care with proper local rights, royalty payments, and concern for the environment, right?
As unseemly as it sounds for the US to help the Afghans with managing their natural resources, consider the alternatives in a free for all. We may not be wearing a pristine white hat, but it's a hell of a lighter shade of black than the alternative hats in the ring (as long as that dick Cheney doesn't manage to weasel his way back in).
What ever happened to "A rising tide lifts all ships"?
I fear your comment IS indeed the "manifest destiny" of Afghanistan.
I am gonna "indulge" the coincidence here because they DO have a lot of "rocks" over there and it would, honestly, be unusual if they didn't have SOME valuable "rocks" containing SOME valuable minerals.
Believing that we and the Russians were all "stupid enough" to have overlookd this for the past 30 years is not dfficult for ME to fathom. Granted the timing IS suspect.
Now, rather than question the legitimacy of the statements or their timing, I will ask WHO exactly owns the land and the minerals? Certainly the ownership records, titles and deeds, may be a little difficult to find and/or authenticate as , I suspect, many of the "land offices" have been blown up or otherwise destroyed.
Unless somebody sneaked in and digitized those reocrds and then backed then up on a remote server, I'll bet nobody knows WHO owns WHAT over there.
Now, that may not be a BAD thing, for US. Just a bad thing for THEM. The list of minerals appears to be impressive as is their potential value.
Just may be this is a legitimate "silver lining" even though this is one big, fat, humongous cloud. Hey, we were DUE some good luck, don't ya' think?
What we will hear is how we must help Afghanistan
develop it's mineral resources to help its struggling economy. The proceeds can be used to build a strong military, schools, roads and a better way of life.
What we will see is more American soldiers die and select few mining companies get rich. There will be very few "local" jobs as most of the well paying jobs will be for experienced foreigners reaping the benefits of not paying taxes from working abroad. The only Afghans to get rich will be a select few corrupt politicians.
Brilliant. Nation Building at its finest. All the poppy growers can become miners/grizzled prospectors. Haliburton is probably best qualified to build the ramshackle mining towns, with security at the local saloons provided by the company formerly known as Blackwater. The Pentagon's manic depression with respect to Afghanistan can be treated with the vast lithium deposits found there. Lastly, there is at least one more important economic upside for the US economy. Hollywood is desperate for fresh looking action genera. I give you the "Aush Western" named for the traditional Afghan noodle. Time to dust off that old Seven Samurai script again.
I read this article this morning and my first thought is that we will never leave Afghanistan now.
What you smell is greed.