Next Step: Exploit Afghanistan’s Natural Resources

In my piece today on the gradual drawdown of NATO troops in Afghanistan, I provided plenty of evidence supporting the notion that we are not getting out of Afghanistan in 2014, as the Obama administration claims. By the end of next year, 40,000 will have been withdrawn, from the approximately 140,000 there now.

I’ve written before about how actual military and defense officials repeatedly explain that 2014 will not be the end of the occupation. As just one example, in a recent talk at the Council on Foreign Relations from under secretary of defense for policy at the Department of Defense Michèle Flournoy, she explained that “2014 is not a withdrawal date—it’s an inflection point.” And now Afghan President Hamid Karzai has tacitly approved a robust strategic agreement and U.S. military presence through 2024 at his council of over 2,000 tribal elders.

But if we needed more evidence that 2014 is merely a political stamp (I think the zero should have a peace sign in it), as opposed to an actual date for the end of the military occupation, I think training Afghan geoscientists to collect, process, and exploit valuable “mineral resources” and “rare earth elements” in Afghanistan is plenty enough to top it off.

The Pentagon’s Task Force for Business and Stability Operations (TFBSO), in partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey, announced today it will provide training and equipment specific to airborne geophysical exploration to the Afghan Geological Survey.  This initiative is part of the U.S. Government’s continuing efforts to help the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan identify and develop its vast deposits of mineral resources in a transparent and responsible fashion.

A key component of the USGS’ new effort is to train Afghan geoscientists in collecting, processing and interpreting high-resolution geophysical data themselves.  Utilizing airborne technology is essential to obtaining reliable, detailed information on mineral and rare earth element deposits.

…The TFBSO has already worked extensively with USGS to develop an ongoing survey of mineral resources and rare earth elements in Afghanistan, as well as creating an online and central repository for that data in Kabul.  The new training is intended to augment and expand these earlier efforts.  This earlier work identified at least $1 trillion in mineral resources, fossil fuels, and rare earth elements within Afghanistan, according to Pentagon estimates.

108 thoughts on “Next Step: Exploit Afghanistan’s Natural Resources”

  1. I havent any word to appreciate this post…..Really i am impressed from this post….the person who create this post it was a great human..thanks for shared this with us. our website

  2. He is a constituent of nay In our dub, an adversary zionist classify plus has participated per week subsequently the mid in a strike of affiliates Indigo bookstore on bank lane. ” GTA 5

  3. You are every reason, every hope, and every dream I've ever had, and no matter what happens to us in the future, everyday we are together is the greatest day of my life. I will always be yours. Injustice Hack

  4. Wonderful article. I liked reading this and I was really impressed by this. I just wish that you can keep this marvelous consistent work going on! wedding bands

  5. Wonderful article. I liked reading this and I was really impressed by this. I just wish that you can keep this marvelous consistent work going on! wedding bands

  6. Excellently written article, if only all bloggers offered the same level of content as you, the internet would be a much better place. Blog comments

  7. lates foam VS memory foam This is a great post. I like this topic.This site has lots of advantage.I found many interesting things from this site lates foam VS memory foam
    lates foam VS memory foam This is a great post. I like this topic.This site has lots of advantage.I found many interesting things from this site lates foam VS memory foam
    lates foam VS memory foam This is a great post. I like this topic.This site has lots of advantage.I found many interesting things from this site lates foam VS memory foam

  8. I every time used to read post in news papers but now as I am a user of net so from now I am using net for articles or reviews, thanks to web. continue

  9. Wonderful illustrated information. I thank you about that. No doubt it will be very useful for my future projects. Would like to see some other posts on the same subject! agen sbobet

  10. I was very pleased to find this site.I wanted to thank you for this great read!! I definitely enjoying every little bit of it and I have you bookmarked to check out new stuff you post. Pavilion condo

Comments are closed.