Wow (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/14/world/asia/14minerals.html).

The cynic in me can't help but think that this won't really help stabilize the region, even though people are optimistic that it might. All I really see is a massive amount of fighting over these deposits, followed by establishment of environmentally lax, corrupted oversight procedure.

The cynic in *me* suspects that there's nothing 'new' about knowledge of those deposits (the Soviets did geological surveys back when *they* were struggling to hold on to the region, which the Pentagon was aware of in the 1980s), but that this information is being used now as persuasive evidence for the US to stay committed to what is becoming an increasingly unpopular and financially untenable war.

To be more specific, I believe the timing is being used to counter Karzai's public statement of nonconfidence in the US/NATO's ability to stabilize the region and that he is now looking to Pakistan (also in the NYT this week) and to 'sweeten the pot' for him; unfortunately, if current evidence is any indication of future outcomes, what is most likely is that we will end up providing 'security' for the region at enormous costs while China installs its extraction industries.

Regards,
Nydia

Not sure if it is relevant, but lithium and some of the other electronics materials weren't nearly in the demand it is now as it was in the 80's. Perhaps that is a difference?

Oh, unquestionably so, Greystone; in the '80s, lithium was literally so dirt cheap that it was hard to find anyone that would dig it up for medicine (it's still used today to treat mood disorders). With China tightening exports on its own rare earths and tightening its proxy grip on Africa, securing access to rare earths is much more in the national-security mind than it was in the past. However, it's disingenous on the part of Mc Chrystal et al to state that they're 'suddenly' become aware of these deposits, as if this was some new and unforseen game-changer, and frankly stinks of a marketing strategy...

Although given the way the general public has turned a harsh eye on BP post-disaster and is taking a disgusted look at its century-long oil bender, one wonders if fighting a war for lithium (used to make oh-so-virtuous hybrid and electric car batteries to the tune of about 30 pounds each) might sell better than the undisclosed but patently obvious war over oil has...

Protip: if you're not feeding the MI complex monkey, you don't need nearly as much oil :). Just ask the Japanese, whose entire post-Manchuria expansion in WW2 was driven by trying to feed that house on fire...

Regards,
Nydia

Oh, and from today's Wired Magazine on the 'sudden' nature of that discovery:

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2010/06/no-the-military-didnt-just-discover-an-afghan-mineral-motherlode/

Here's a link to a 2009 Washington Post article giving an inkling of what the US government is up against trying to 'develop' Afghan metal resources, to wit, bribes in the tens of millions of dollars paid for mining contracts:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/17/AR2009111704198.html

The article, of course, also makes patently obvious that Afghanistan's mineral resources have been both known about and on US radar for some time.

And while bordering on the surreal in its 'poor little US mining companies don't get taken care of by our government' tone, this article today addresses some of the other issues associated with securing rights in Afghanistan:

http://www.dailyfinance.com/story/investing/china-us-afghanistan-mineral-mining/19515409/

I'm not shocked about the bribes from contractors to get access at the resources. I'm sure the officials in control at the Ministry of Mines (I think that what it's called?) are as corrupt as they come at this point. Where does Russia figure into it though? They discovered the deposits, or at least had an inkling of where they were, but I thought they weren't on the best buddies list with Afghanistan.

Asian industry, China in particular...sends the United States tons and tons of rare earth products daily. If these materials are that important than it would be benificial to recycle these materials out of the products at the end of their lifecycle. "End of Lifecycle" usually means going from a Iphone 3GS to a Iphone 4. The item still works fine and has viable components. THAT is the only way we will ever get a cut of Rare Earths. Otherwise we are stuck being a China man's bitch on this segement of global trade.

Nydia, I can sympathise with your disgust with all this. Plenty of NATO troops have died so China can swoop in and cash in.

http://blog.taragana.com/business/2010/06/08/from-critic-to-beneficiary-china-reaps-oil-and-economic-benefits-of-iraq-war-68556/

Why shouldn't we waste money and lives in Afghanistan as well too to make China even richer? WHY IS IT NO ONE can out flank China in business? Have we become ball-less? Are the Chinese really going to contribute much to these economies outside of the infrastructure to get the materials to China?

Heh.

Doubtful.

Its probably about time to get out of these places and allow China to build her Empire with her own people's blood.