Can we see a link to your source please?
The Shadows Devour You.
Its Scientific American, issue October 2011
www.Scientific American.com/oct2011/afghanistan. You can go here for more information.
...why isn't this working?
...or at least you could, if the damn link apparently didn't lead to a "page not found" hiccup. I'll leave it here in case someone can help me get it working.
edited 19th Sep '11 6:43:26 AM by GameChainsaw
The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.
Collector Of Fine Oddities
I remember the Lithium deposit story being announced perhaps a year ago, but I suppose it was buried by other stories rather quickly. Said that the lithium load was potentially one of the largest, if not the largest, in the world. Good potential for the country, and a tempting bunch of grapes for foreign investors if not for the chaotic situation there right now.
edited 19th Sep '11 8:01:43 AM by carbon-mantis
Beware the Crazy Man.
If I recall, didn't the Chinese win the contract?
Final Fantasy, Foreign Policy, and Bollywood. Helluva combo, that...
The Shadows Devour You.
Yes they did, and according to my article are now the biggest investors in the region.
The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.
Beware the Crazy Man.
The Indians aren't gonna like that...
Final Fantasy, Foreign Policy, and Bollywood. Helluva combo, that...
I changed accounts.
...well...
Ideally, this helps get Afghanistan out of the gutter.
Realistically, one of the major powers just exploits it. I guess I could hope it's the US rather than China, but...
I am now known as Flyboy.
Beware the Crazy Man.
It would be better if a nation with no oar in this fight got ahold of those resources. Unfortunately, nearly every country does.
US or EU gets it, it'll be a reason to continue fighting. If the Russians, Chinese, or Indians get it, it causes power imbalances in the region for some one else.
Honestly, I think the only guys who have the capability of making a deal without being a major player would be someone like South Africa or Australia or maybe even Brazil.
Final Fantasy, Foreign Policy, and Bollywood. Helluva combo, that...
This foreboding is fa...
In these sorts of situations, don't countries typically hire their own private security forces to guard the mining institutions, while maintaining low safety measures, keeping as much of the money as they can manage for themselves and
oh christ that's depressing.
Well, one can always hope it doesn't play out like that. If nothing else, the unusual level of publicity of such a mine, being in Afghanistan, might alleviate some of that issue.
If China acquires the mine, how much does that really change the market? They already have most of the current mines, no?
edited 19th Sep '11 1:35:33 PM by deathjavu
Look, you can't make me speak in a logical, coherent, intelligent bananna.
I changed accounts.
It will be like the blood diamonds at worst, I imagine. If I were to be hopelessly idealistic, I could say that the US would try and make them enact proper safety standards, but since we're currently working with jerkass warlords to get out of the place as fast as is humanly possible, I doubt that will happen...
I am now known as Flyboy.
USAF@If I was in charge I would just let them keep the rare earth reserves because I think Afghanistan has been through enough the last decade.Then again this will also make them a target for the surrounding countries if the US doesn't claim it.So,what is the proper way to go with less unpleasant outcomes.
We do all the work and the Chinese move in? Great..
I changed accounts.
Pisses me off too, Kino...
I am now known as Flyboy.
Yeah,do something that could prevent the Chinese from mucking things up and we are frowned upon.Let the Chinese take over and the Afghanistans will have another thing to get mad at us.
Decemberist
The Afghans can't do what they want with their resources now? I thought the USA wasn't a neo-imperialist power
Dutch Lesbian
whale@Hey,Britain has some part in the way Afghanistan is now so don't be talking.
I'd say just let them have the sticking rocks because its the right thing but I would keep an eye for China because who knows what they will do.
Space Wizard
Decemberist
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
I know Britain is in Afghanistan. We stopped the Taliban from taking Helmand
I changed accounts.
Realistically, one of the superpowers is going to essentially own Afghanistan.
I'd rather it be the US so I can have some meager say in what we do with it, and hopefully have it sway towards the "do whatever, we'll shoot anybody if they fuck with you" idea than the "we really do own you" idea...
I am now known as Flyboy.
I just know those warlords will horde the rare earth reserves and sell them to the highest bidder while keeping all the money to themselves and I have a feeling that Karzac will be behind it all.
V
By the way, competition between the Great Powers in the region is nothing new — see The Great Game
of the 19th Century.
In fact, the recent comptition in the area (involving some old names — it's now the forth time the British have been in Afghanistan) has been called the "The New Great Game".
Things don't change in that region.
Keep Rolling On
Decemberist
USAF
>Implying that the United States of America is better than China.
Dutch Lesbian
I have lived in this country my entire life and I know a lot of our policies suck however I have a feeling that the warlords will sell our their people to the Chinese.Believe me the Chinese government can be a bigger bitch in sheeps clothing.
I changed accounts.
Our oppression is less institutionalized, if that counts for anything.
It's more implying that I can do something to change the US's behavior, albeit very little. I can't do a damn thing to stop China from being a dick...
I am now known as Flyboy.
A Scientific American article titled Afghanistan's Buried Riches, by Sarah Simpson, tells us that Afghanistan has struck rare earths in Khanneshin, including carbonatite, Uranium, Lithium, and Travertine, in the southern region where the Taliban have the greatest power.
The reserves could help fix global supply in a world where China is hoarding its rare earth wealth.
It also threatens the Taliban, who rely mainly on opium for their income. The pushing out of opium in exchange for mining these precious ores could severely hurt the Talibans bottom line.
To give a direct quote.
"An astounding variety of minerals lie buried in Afghanistan, including seven world-class deposits. Based on recent science, senior officials think mining could mak the country economically stable and cut its heavy dependence on foreign aid and illicit opium trade. Outside nations have already invested in two sites, and six more are scheduled (side note, seems to be the Chinese mainly, with the US investing in gold mines and the Indians rushing for iron) for auction; infrastructure will have to be improved however. Production at a single large mine could provide jobs for tens of thousands of Afghans."
(me) Hate to think what the safety regulations are gonna be like though. :(
edited 19th Sep '11 4:09:03 AM by GameChainsaw
The term "Great Man" is disturbingly interchangeable with "mass murderer" in history books.