quote:

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....

In 2004, American geologists, sent to Afghanistan as part of a broader reconstruction effort, stumbled across an intriguing series of old charts and data at the library of the Afghan Geological Survey in Kabul that hinted at major mineral deposits in the country. They soon learned that the data had been collected by Soviet mining experts during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s, but cast aside when the Soviets withdrew in 1989.

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.

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ORIGINAL: Musicmystery

Actually, turns out we DID know Afghanistan was mineral rich, and have for quite some time, just that we didn't really know how much until now.

Explains a lot, doesn't it.

I do hope this turns into legitimate business/employment opportunities for the Afghans.

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Turns out Afghanistan is filthy rich

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ORIGINAL: housesub4you

We have known about this for over 20 year as did some of the Russian scientists when they had their war 

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ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

Curiously-  we were told Iraq would pay for itself- via the oil.

We ARE waiting.     Again.

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ORIGINAL: ThatDamnedPanda

Huh. How 'bout that? Turns out Afghanistan is filthy rich. Some of the largest deposits of strategic minerals in the world. And we've know about it for at least 6 years, maybe longer.

quote:

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....

In 2004, American geologists, sent to Afghanistan as part of a broader reconstruction effort, stumbled across an intriguing series of old charts and data at the library of the Afghan Geological Survey in Kabul that hinted at major mineral deposits in the country. They soon learned that the data had been collected by Soviet mining experts during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan in the 1980s, but cast aside when the Soviets withdrew in 1989.

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.

Imagine That

So much for an "exit strategy." That was, like, so-o-o-o-o 2008. We're never leaving now.