US discovers nearly $1 trillion in untapped mineral deposits in Afghanistan!

[QUOTE="MystikFollower"]

Although I am guessing you're being sarcastic, I am at the point where I believe we should simply take the resources as well. These wars have cost us so much money it is about time we take something for ourselves.UnknownSniper65

Western Imperialism FTW! :)

And yet much of the American public are clueless why many people within the region of the Middle East despise the west including the United States... Or make silly claims like "Its because of our freedoms!".

[QUOTE="bobaban"][QUOTE="majwill24"]

Its unclear at the moment. I recall the Iraq oil contracts all going to non american companies, maybe these assets will follow the same path. The US government seems to want to avoid the impression that the wars are not about resources, but rather altruistic purposes.

majwill24

I do agree its foolish with the Afghan situation. Ir the minerals are going to be tapped, the US will have to provide most of the security, so it would make sense for both governments and private contractors to work out a fair agreement for all

This could possibly end the war, no? Advancements such this are major. The United States, along with the other countries involved, have really helped Afghanistan in this case. Perhaps the country can join the ranks of other developed nations now.

We should steal it, finders keepers losers weepers.

Better start bringing in our contractors.

[QUOTE="taj7575"]

[...]

Obama has even aknowledged Operation Ajax a few times

[...]

Stesilaus

Operation Ajax 1 is probably on Obama's mind because of the leading role he's currently playing in Operation Ajax 2.

Surely you don't think the sanctions against Iran really have anything to do with Iran's nuclear enrichment program?

Quick! Get your tinfoil hats out everyone!

[QUOTE="MystikFollower"]

[QUOTE="UnknownSniper65"] Although I am guessing you're being sarcastic, I am at the point where I believe we should simply take the resources as well. These wars have cost us so much money it is about time we take something for ourselves.sSubZerOo

Western Imperialism FTW! :)

And yet much of the American public are clueless why many people within the region of the Middle East despise the west including the United States... Or make silly claims like "Its because of our freedoms!".

Sooo infidel is a synonym for imperialist? Did not know that!

[QUOTE="l4dak47"]50-50 for both U.S. and Afghanistan. It'll help us pay off some of our debts among other things and it'll help the Afghans as well. The U.S. has been essentially governing Afghanistan for the past 9 years and giving the afghans a chance to not be repressed. This will be our reward. SEANMCAD

I think I missed it, I think over the past 8 years I havent seen a single regular afgan citizen say "please US come and help us'. I guess I missed that news program.

I am going out on a crazy theory here, I dont think they want our help. Just a possible worth giving some considerable...just maybe?

Ummm...yes, they have. Many don't want the U.S. to leave because that means the Taliban will rule again. This isn't even debatable. Look it up.

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

[QUOTE="MystikFollower"]

Western Imperialism FTW! :)

SpartanMSU

And yet much of the American public are clueless why many people within the region of the Middle East despise the west including the United States... Or make silly claims like "Its because of our freedoms!".

Sooo infidel is a synonym for imperialist? Did not know that!

:| That doesn't stop the region from having any religious extremists.. But to some how suggest they "hate us for our freedoms"as the main reason why the middle east despises the west by an large.. IS flat out ignorance.. No the 130 years of imperialist policy by the West within the Middle East Has LITTLE to do with it.. RIGHT :roll:

[QUOTE="SpartanMSU"]

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

And yet much of the American public are clueless why many people within the region of the Middle East despise the west including the United States... Or make silly claims like "Its because of our freedoms!".

sSubZerOo

Sooo infidel is a synonym for imperialist? Did not know that!

:| That doesn't stop the region from having any religious extremists.. But to some how suggest they "hate us for our freedoms" is a flat out ignorance.. No the 130 years of imperialist policy by the West within the Middle East Has LITTLE to do with it.. RIGHT :roll:

Yep. Put words in my mouth. I definitely said they hate us for our freedoms. You're right.:roll:

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

[QUOTE="SpartanMSU"]

Sooo infidel is a synonym for imperialist? Did not know that!

SpartanMSU

:| That doesn't stop the region from having any religious extremists.. But to some how suggest they "hate us for our freedoms" is a flat out ignorance.. No the 130 years of imperialist policy by the West within the Middle East Has LITTLE to do with it.. RIGHT :roll:

Yep. Put words in my mouth. I definitely said they hate us for our freedoms. You're right.:roll:

.. It certainly seems that way when your trying to make a rebutal specifically going after this, while not explaining your point any further.. Could you please elaborate instead?

[QUOTE="SpartanMSU"]

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

:| That doesn't stop the region from having any religious extremists.. But to some how suggest they "hate us for our freedoms" is a flat out ignorance.. No the 130 years of imperialist policy by the West within the Middle East Has LITTLE to do with it.. RIGHT :roll:

sSubZerOo

Yep. Put words in my mouth. I definitely said they hate us for our freedoms. You're right.:roll:

.. It certainly seems that way when your trying to make a rebutal specifically going after this, while not explaining your point any further.. Could you please elaborate instead?

It's not just because of imperialism. You're clueless if you believe that. That was my point.

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

[QUOTE="SpartanMSU"]

Yep. Put words in my mouth. I definitely said they hate us for our freedoms. You're right.:roll:

SpartanMSU

.. It certainly seems that way when your trying to make a rebutal specifically going after this, while not explaining your point any further.. Could you please elaborate instead?

It's not just because of imperialism. You're clueless if you believe that. That was my point.

No one argues it isn't the only thing, but it is the MAIN thing.. The west has had control of the Middle East either directly or indirectly for over 120 years.. Infact religious extremism and its rise often times is directly related with western infringement.. Take a look at Iran.. During 1953 Mosadeq the democratically elected president was overthrown by CIA and MI6 operatives and the brutal and corrupt dictator the Shah was put into power.. He was supported til his downfall.. And his brutal and flawed policies led to the religious extremist overthrow of 1979..

Saddam's forces and what not are nothing new either.. They are the leadership trying to be head of nationalist arabic movement.. In which they see Israel (with some pretty good reason) as a stooge of imperialism.. Afterall can you really blame them? Not saying Israel should or shouldn't exist but its exitence was based specifically on the fact of British rule.. Of Great Britain hadn't mandated (alogn with France) the region including Palestine.. The zionist movement wouldn't have gone so well, Britian played favorites with this and were more or less given a automous government within the region while the Arabs didn't.. Britain's policies also failed to alievate the problems of the area and it only made things worse when the zionist specifically tried to undermine any pro Palestianin measures.. Lets not forge the Balfour declaration... Hell we can see this with the flawed 2 state solutions by Britain and early UN (which were based off British strategy) in which the Jewish population was heavily favored..

Then there are mandates.. "official" imperialism that lasted from 1918 to around 1950.. Which more or less gave Britain and France either to direclty control the region or at very elast install a puppet dictator in power..

Infact it can really be argued that the recent extremist movement that only started to come in force after aroundt he early 1970s when the West attempted to undermine or compeltely flat out destroy socialist governmetns due to Cold War.. Extremism is a problem in all parts of the developing world, the problem being is no region has been so controled direclty or indireclty by the west.. And these poliices are continuing.. You think Desert Storm was committed to save lives? Uh huh thats why their first strategy/operation during the war was to secure the oil fields.. I'm not taking sides here, but to some how suggest that imperialism is not the main reason for the hatred from the region towards the West.. Then I suggest you re-read history.. It is the overshadowing all imposing logical reason why the people of the region regardless how secular they are dislike Western policy...

Hell Egypt the most secular Arab country in the region became even more angered witht he invasion of Iraq.. It can be said that US did create democracy, in the wrong place.. In places like Egypt where there were overwhelming unpopularity of Western foriegn policy within the region.

[QUOTE="SpartanMSU"]

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

.. It certainly seems that way when your trying to make a rebutal specifically going after this, while not explaining your point any further.. Could you please elaborate instead?

sSubZerOo

It's not just because of imperialism. You're clueless if you believe that. That was my point.

No one argues it isn't the only thing, but it is the MAIN thing.. The west has had control of the Middle East either directly or indirectly for over 120 years.. Infact religious extremism and its rise often times is directly related with western infringement.. Take a look at Iran.. During 1953 Mosadeq the democratically elected president was overthrown by CIA and MI6 operatives and the brutal and corrupt dictator the Shah was put into power.. He was supported til his downfall.. And his brutal and flawed policies led to the religious extremist overthrow of 1979..

Saddam's forces and what not are nothing new either.. They are the leadership trying to be head of nationalist arabic movement.. In which they see Israel (with some pretty good reason) as a stooge of imperialism.. Afterall can you really blame them? Not saying Israel should or shouldn't exist but its exitence was based specifically on the fact of British rule.. Of Great Britain hadn't mandated (alogn with France) the region including Palestine.. The zionist movement wouldn't have gone so well, Britian played favorites with this and were more or less given a automous government within the region while the Arabs didn't.. Britain's policies also failed to alievate the problems of the area and it only made things worse when the zionist specifically tried to undermine any pro Palestianin measures.. Lets not forge the Balfour declaration... Hell we can see this with the flawed 2 state solutions by Britain and early UN (which were based off British strategy) in which the Jewish population was heavily favored..

Then there are mandates.. "official" imperialism that lasted from 1918 to around 1950.. Which more or less gave Britain and France either to direclty control the region or at very elast install a puppet dictator in power..

Infact it can really be argued that the recent extremist movement that only started to come in force after aroundt he early 1970s when the West attempted to undermine or compeltely flat out destroy socialist governmetns due to Cold War.. Extremism is a problem in all parts of the developing world, the problem being is no region has been so controled direclty or indireclty by the west.. And these poliices are continuing.. You think Desert Storm was committed to save lives? Uh huh thats why their first strategy/operation during the war was to secure the oil fields.. I'm not taking sides here, but to some how suggest that imperialism is not the main reason for the hatred from the region towards the West.. Then I suggest you re-read history.. It is the overshadowing all imposing logical reason why the people of the region regardless how secular they are dislike Western policy...

Hell Egypt the most secular Arab country in the region became even more angered witht he invasion of Iraq.. It can be said that US did create democracy, in the wrong place.. In places like Egypt where there were overwhelming unpopularity of Western foriegn policy within the region.

That's avery good synopsis, but, of course, it only scratches the surface ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covert_U.S._regime_change_actions

[QUOTE="sSubZerOo"]

[QUOTE="SpartanMSU"]

It's not just because of imperialism. You're clueless if you believe that. That was my point.

Stesilaus

No one argues it isn't the only thing, but it is the MAIN thing.. The west has had control of the Middle East either directly or indirectly for over 120 years.. Infact religious extremism and its rise often times is directly related with western infringement.. Take a look at Iran.. During 1953 Mosadeq the democratically elected president was overthrown by CIA and MI6 operatives and the brutal and corrupt dictator the Shah was put into power.. He was supported til his downfall.. And his brutal and flawed policies led to the religious extremist overthrow of 1979..

Saddam's forces and what not are nothing new either.. They are the leadership trying to be head of nationalist arabic movement.. In which they see Israel (with some pretty good reason) as a stooge of imperialism.. Afterall can you really blame them? Not saying Israel should or shouldn't exist but its exitence was based specifically on the fact of British rule.. Of Great Britain hadn't mandated (alogn with France) the region including Palestine.. The zionist movement wouldn't have gone so well, Britian played favorites with this and were more or less given a automous government within the region while the Arabs didn't.. Britain's policies also failed to alievate the problems of the area and it only made things worse when the zionist specifically tried to undermine any pro Palestianin measures.. Lets not forge the Balfour declaration... Hell we can see this with the flawed 2 state solutions by Britain and early UN (which were based off British strategy) in which the Jewish population was heavily favored..

Then there are mandates.. "official" imperialism that lasted from 1918 to around 1950.. Which more or less gave Britain and France either to direclty control the region or at very elast install a puppet dictator in power..

Infact it can really be argued that the recent extremist movement that only started to come in force after aroundt he early 1970s when the West attempted to undermine or compeltely flat out destroy socialist governmetns due to Cold War.. Extremism is a problem in all parts of the developing world, the problem being is no region has been so controled direclty or indireclty by the west.. And these poliices are continuing.. You think Desert Storm was committed to save lives? Uh huh thats why their first strategy/operation during the war was to secure the oil fields.. I'm not taking sides here, but to some how suggest that imperialism is not the main reason for the hatred from the region towards the West.. Then I suggest you re-read history.. It is the overshadowing all imposing logical reason why the people of the region regardless how secular they are dislike Western policy...

Hell Egypt the most secular Arab country in the region became even more angered witht he invasion of Iraq.. It can be said that US did create democracy, in the wrong place.. In places like Egypt where there were overwhelming unpopularity of Western foriegn policy within the region.

That's avery good synopsis, but, of course, it only scratches the surface ...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covert_U.S._regime_change_actions

Yeah sorry couldn't be more indepth.. There are literally dozens of books abou this subject by the top historians in the field.. Monte Palmer is a good start imo to read about the numerous issues in the area.. Now this isn't to say that its ALL the Wests fault.. Human greed and power fit into it as well from the leadership within the region.

[QUOTE="foxhound_fox"][QUOTE="Buyugold"]America better get the money back it has put into that country from this. I am gonna rage if china swoops in and takes everything. At least there will be something to show for after 9 years of fighting and maybe the country will become a more stable place Ultimas_Blade

[QUOTE="majwill24"]

[QUOTE="bobaban"] That's foolish and a waste of money. Harvest I say, harvest!V4LENT1NE

I do agree its foolish with the Afghan situation. Ir the minerals are going to be tapped, the US will have to provide most of the security, so it would make sense for both governments and private contractors to work out a fair agreement for all

Well you guys better come up with something. China has slowly reduce the export of the rare earths and a very real possibility of completely halting some of the important ones.

Its funny how things play out. The US is dependent on foreign oil and so it rapidly trying to develop renewables, but those energy technologies are dependent on rare earth minerals. However, unlike the middle east nations like Saudi Arabia, where domestic needs are low and they have the ability to export, China wont be the same. This is why you see them all over the world securing resources, especially in Africa and most likely Afghanistan in the future. A reporter paraphrased a chinese official about the current trade "you guys better start looking out for yourselves"

I suspect the slow moving US government, who can only plan for next week, will find themselves in a precarious situation in the coming decades, with very little options on what to do about the need for rare earth minerals.