U.S. discovers 1 trillion dollars worth of minerals in Afghanistan

http://www.montrealgazette.com/technology/Golden+opportunity/3177822/story.html

Here is one of about 50 websites that reported the initial estimate of 1 trillion was off. American news sites have barely touched on it but overseas has.

That is where I am getting the 3 trillion # from.

From the article I posted earlier......there was this quote.....

Sounds a lot like 1st to me. I just wonder why the US is not being mentioned in any talks so far about the mineral extraction.

 

In all honesty, you may be reading way too much into it. To me it looks like the US being the top priority is an afterthought, not even worth mentioning.

Japan is being given some sort of priority, but over the US I doubt it.

 

I'm curious as to why you feel the situation in Afghanistan gotten better vs. 8 years ago? The Taliban was displaced, and that is a major plus (since they were an oppressive regime). Though my impression is that the pulling the troops and resources from Afghanistan to fight Iraq, the country destabilized, lacked a real economy and many farmers are becoming narcotic producers. Basically we went in and just didn't do a thorough job (like we're trying to do with Iraq, which IS a long and difficult process) and now the country is arguably worse than when we started bombing.


Hopefully with these resource, U.S./NATO/EU/ heck some country some where can go in and help them improve. I think we'll still get an oppressive regime of the haves and have not but hopefully there will be some semblance of stability and improvement.

P.S. Still, if the U.S. can help and become a stabilizing force (with the army) in the region, regardless if it gets a shot at the minerals (though I'm sure we got dibs on some of the stuff) while hopefully turning that country around as it's economy and situation improves, I think the change in perception of what the U.S. is among rest of the world is worth it. Because right now, people don't like us very much .

 

I doubt any those minerals will be leaving Afghanistan anytime soon. You got a ton of corruption, no infrastructure, a landlocked country with terrible terrain and a bunch of Taliban\bandits\drug lords running around. Too risky for western companies, but the Chinese might try, as they are running a pretty large copper mine near Kabul.