View Full Version : U.S. Identifies Vast Riches Of Minerals In Afghanistan
And so it goes...
Richard's $.02 :munchin
U.S. Identifies Vast Riches Of Minerals In Afghanistan
NYT, 13 June 2010
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 Blackberries.
(cont'd) http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/world/asia/14minerals.html?ref=global-home
And we should make sure that we get back every cent that this war has cost us...plus interest.
It's the least that the good Islamic Repuplic of Afghanistan can do for us.
But then again, I kinda thought that an Iraqi oil field or two would have made great territories for the U.S.
Strangely, these deposits of lithium are shaped remarkably like used 5590s.
Let's hope they (we) can capitalize on this...
But then again, I kinda thought that an Iraqi oil field or two would have made great territories for the U.S.
Apparently the Chinese have other ideas.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37577656/ns/business-oil_and_energy/
From among the most outspoken of critics of the 2003 U.S.-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein, China has emerged as one of the biggest economic beneficiaries of the war, snagging five lucrative deals. While Western firms were largely subdued in their interest in Iraq's recent oil auctions, China snapped up three contracts, shrugging off the security risks and the country's political instability for the promise of oil.
Call me ignorant, but even if we did not directly prosper (monetarily) from the new found wealth, I think we could effectively claim Afghanistan as a political victory if they could build themselves up and capitalize on the deposits, with our supervision of course. To me that would somewhat validate our efforts. I would also ask them to compensate all the families of every US and NATO service member who gave their life so they can have theirs.
ttg290580
06-14-2010, 00:47
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 link http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/world/asia/14minerals.html?pagewanted=1&no_interstitial
Can anyone say funding for terrorism:eek:
REMINDER: the SEARCH function can easily save multi-posting errors. Richard
LongWire
06-14-2010, 02:23
http://professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?p=335124#post335124
WASHINGTON — The United States has discovered nearly $1 trillion in untapped mineral deposits in Afghanistan,,,,,,
So W was correct, there are WMD's in the AO???
WMD, aka: Wonderfully Mineral Deposits...
The Reaper
06-14-2010, 04:52
Apparently the Chinese have other ideas.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/37577656/ns/business-oil_and_energy/
.
Exactly.
And they are going to get a deal to control these as well.
Watch.
TR
Exactly.
And they are going to get a deal to control these as well.
Watch.
TR
They are already working on it.
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.
Dozer523
06-14-2010, 07:07
Mineral wealth should not come as any surprise, anytime and anyplace that has tectonic sub-duction and upthrusting happens. . . . even if we did not directly prosper (monetarily) from the new found wealth, I think we could effectively claim Afghanistan as a political victory We already can claim a political victory. Afghanistan is so much better now then it when the Taliban was ruling and that was better then when the Soviets were occupying. We have had a moral victory since day one. Now we just have to finish by securing that victory militarily.
Kind of hard to wrap my head around "rich Afghans" though.
Getting it out of the ground and getting it to market are two different things. Sort of like mining on the moon.I would also ask them to compensate all the families of every US and NATO service member who gave their life so they can have theirs. It's a thought but it won't and should not happen. "War reparations" don't work.
mark46th
06-14-2010, 08:57
If the U.S. is looking for a reason to stay involved in A-stan, here is a reason. This just maybe what the AO needs. With this much mineral wealth, the eventual availability of jobs offering a chance to actually earn a decent living may change the culture enough to provide the changes that Afghanistan needs to modernize a society stuck in the 18th century.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100614/ap_on_bi_ge/us_afghanistan_mineral_treasures
REMINDER: the SEARCH function can easily save multi-posting errors. Richard
This could potentially make the future in that area very "interesting" to say the least. I wonder how it will affect the already deteriorating American image. Especailly considering the article directly relates its value to oil which America is very thirsty for already.
rubberneck
06-14-2010, 09:45
Considering Iran fancies themselves as a regional power I wonder what will happen when we do leave. Will they work to try to overthrow the Karzi government and replace it with a puppet government favorable to Iran. I wonder what long term implications it has for that country now that the world knows that it is actually worth something.
mark46th
06-14-2010, 09:55
Yes, indeed. We have seen the extent the U.S. will go to protect strategic oil supplies. Once investment in these resources commences, I think we will see a change in attitude about just how important the area has become.
If the U.S. will go to war for a banana company, think of the lengths the government will go to for a trillion dollars in strategic minerals.
Aoresteen
06-14-2010, 12:06
Finding ore deposits is one thing. Getting them out is another. You will need:
1. Railroads to move the ore to ports (A-Stan has no ports). So either Iran or Pakistan will have to provide a way to an ocean port (can you say duties & taxes?)
2. Ships to transport the ore to mills.
No one will build a mill in A-Stan. An if they did you still need to get the product out (still no railroads or ports).
Good luck with making any money in this endevor.
Someone once told me that the Vietnam experience was nothing more than a 16 year campaign of the Cold War, with Russia and China obtaining Tin deposits and an increase in the number of warm water ports, of course at the expense of a few million Vietnamese.
Nothing changes.....
I sure hope this is good for stability but history would seem to say not. There are African countries with loads of minerals and they have brought nothing to the citizens. I think Aoresteen hit it right on the button
Peregrino
06-14-2010, 15:35
Amd let's not forget the Chinese contract to mine copper we discussed a while ago. Fraught with corruption and having no discernable benefit for the Afghani people. I don't see this as being any different.
mark46th
06-14-2010, 16:48
If enough money is involved, it will be worked out. Oil has never stopped flowing out of the Middle East, even through the on again, off again state of warfare in the area. Instead of Oil Sheiks, we will have to deal with Lithium Guls...
SOT-Aj KIA 4th July 2010
06-15-2010, 05:21
Finding ore deposits is one thing. Getting them out is another. You will need:
1. Railroads to move the ore to ports (A-Stan has no ports). So either Iran or Pakistan will have to provide a way to an ocean port (can you say duties & taxes?)
2. Ships to transport the ore to mills.
No one will build a mill in A-Stan. An if they did you still need to get the product out (still no railroads or ports).
Good luck with making any money in this endevor.
There is already a large and well publicized NATO railway going into Masar-E-Sharif being built. Has been for months.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/7825064/Afghanistan-to-complete-first-railway-by-end-of-year.html
The Reaper
06-15-2010, 05:26
There is already a large and well publicized NATO railway going into Masar-E-Sharif being built. Has been for months.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/7825064/Afghanistan-to-complete-first-railway-by-end-of-year.html
Not to mention the contiguous border with China.
TR
Aoresteen
06-15-2010, 08:47
Look at a map. The NATO railway from Mazar-i-Sharif goes north - it doesn't hit most of the discoverd areas.
http://i.infoplease.com/images/mafghan.gif
http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=15838&d=1276603366
For more info on A-Stan's railroads, see:
http://www.andrewgrantham.co.uk/afghanistan/tag/herat/
They plan on spending $5 billion to build new rail lines.
Here's an interesting quote from a rep of the National Mining Association:
"Sudan will host the Winter Olympics before these guys get a trillion dollars out of the ground," said Luke Popovich of the National Mining Assn., which represents U.S. mining companies.
Not going to happen anytime soon.
Let the bidding wars begin...
Afghanistan's untapped mineral wealth is worth at least $3 trillion — triple a U.S. estimate, according to the government's top mining official, who is going to Britain next week to attract foreign investors to mine one of the world's largest iron ore deposits in the heart of the war-torn nation.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/afghanistan/2010-06-17-mineral-wealth_N.htm?csp=YahooModule_News
And so it goes...
Richard :munchin
uboat509
06-18-2010, 04:33
Finding ore deposits is one thing. Getting them out is another. You will need:
1. Railroads to move the ore to ports (A-Stan has no ports). So either Iran or Pakistan will have to provide a way to an ocean port (can you say duties & taxes?)
2. Ships to transport the ore to mills.
No one will build a mill in A-Stan. An if they did you still need to get the product out (still no railroads or ports).
Good luck with making any money in this endevor.
Niger is landlocked and has not railroads yet its mines produce a large percentage of the total Unranium in the world. As Mark46th stated, if there is money to be made, somebody will work out a way to make it.
Look at a map. The NATO railway from Mazar-i-Sharif goes north - it doesn't hit most of the discoverd areas.
http://i.infoplease.com/images/mafghan.gif
http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=15838&d=1276603366
For more info on A-Stan's railroads, see:
http://www.andrewgrantham.co.uk/afghanistan/tag/herat/
They plan on spending $5 billion to build new rail lines.
Here's an interesting quote from a rep of the National Mining Association:
"Sudan will host the Winter Olympics before these guys get a trillion dollars out of the ground," said Luke Popovich of the National Mining Assn., which represents U.S. mining companies.
Not going to happen anytime soon.
Video from Stratfor that argues the same points...
http://www.stratfor.com/analysis/20100615_dispatch_bringing_afghanistans_mineral_we alth_market?utm_source=SWeekly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=100617&utm_content=watchvideo&elq=9e0b2e2ee45a42acbd1299d1cc87495d