Stretch
06-14-2010, 07:38 AM
It seems that the rugged terrain and vast area's of uninhabited lands in Afganistan are ideal for the drug trade, terrerist training, wars, and Mining! Apparently there are huge deposits of rare earth elements and critical industry metals like lithium there. Here's the rub. When and if "the dust settles" and whoever is left to call the shots wants to exploit what is said to be the Saudia Arabia of minerals it's going to take decades. There is no infrastructure men or materials. On the other hand China for instance could walk in overnight with BILLIONS to kick start everything and put the man and machinery, expertise and infrastructure right there NOW. Just like they did all over Africa. In fact they've already commited billions to whoever ends up with claim over what territory. I'd hate to think we've gone through all this just to let China walk in and laugh all the way to the bank. St.