Afghanistan has nearly $1,000,000,000,000 in mineral wealth.

The_Minister · 14-06-2010 11:16AM #1

(is that enough zeros for a trillion?).
Link

Article is too long to quote (two pages), but essentially Afghanistan could, if developed, become one of the wealthiest countries in the Middle East, instead of one of the poorest.

Will this end the war in Afghanistan, or exacerbate it?

flutered · 14-06-2010 11:18AM

undoubatly fuel to the fire.

thetonynator · 14-06-2010 11:19AM

The Americans will prob invade and take everything leaving a destroyed country with no hope of developing in the next 50 years . . .wait . . .that sounds familiar . . . .

wes · 14-06-2010 11:20AM

Well hopefully, the government there can get its act together, and ensure that all ethnic groups get a fair share of the wealth, and Afghanistan can become a nice place to live for its people, as apposed to the current war torn nation that it is.

WindSock · 14-06-2010 11:20AM

If only they were allowed discover it themselves instead of wasting all their energy on running around telling people what to wear.

pickarooney · 14-06-2010 11:22AM

Having untold mineral wealth has been of **** all use to Africa.

The_Minister · 14-06-2010 11:22AM

WindSock wrote: »

If only they were allowed discover it themselves instead of wasting all their energy on running around telling people what to wear.

In fairness, the reason they didn't see it till now wasn't because their vision was obscured by burkas....

They've actually known since the Soviets.

bonerm · 14-06-2010 11:25AM

Big deal. Kazakhstan is #1 exporter of potassium.

Truley · 14-06-2010 11:27AM

Nothing surprising, America isn't in a habit of occupying poor countries :rolleyes:

14-06-2010 11:33AM

pickarooney wrote: »

Having untold mineral wealth has been of **** all use to Africa.

But it has to Europe and America /yoink

ejmaztec · 14-06-2010 11:33AM

WindSock wrote: »

If only they were allowed discover it themselves instead of wasting all their energy on running around telling people what to wear.

The Taliban will be the first ones to place an order for Armani suits, after they've grabbed some of the action, but the women will still be getting their garb from the local camping supplies shop.

Berty · 14-06-2010 11:34AM

Sounds like there might be weapons of mass destruction to be searched for.

Wazdakka · 14-06-2010 11:35AM

Truley wrote: »

Nothing surprising, America isn't in a habit of occupying poor countries :rolleyes:

There's still plenty of them in America...

And America has a national debt of over 13,000,000,000,000 (Trillion)
That's over $42,000 per us citizen.
They have to be the most in debt / poorest country at the moment

peasant · 14-06-2010 11:39AM

Wazdakka wrote: »

That's over $42,000 per us citizen.
They have to be the most in debt / poorest country at the moment

Ah no, that would be us (not US, us) ...depending on who's figures you believe, our debt per capita is about ten times that at around 440,000 USD per noggin

Wazdakka · 14-06-2010 11:44AM

peasant wrote: »

Ah no, that would be us (not US, us) ...depending on who's figures you believe, our debt per capita is about ten times that at around 440,000 USD per noggin

Really? :eek:
Madness...

Ah well... Good aul Ireland..
Any chance you have a Link for that?

L.Jenkins · 14-06-2010 11:49AM

Its alright, the Afghans will see none of that more than likely. By the time the yanks leave it will all be plundered and Afghanistan will resemble Central Africa, barren and useless to most.

14-06-2010 11:50AM

peasant wrote: »

Ah no, that would be us (not US, us) ...depending on who's figures you believe, our debt per capita is about ten times that at around 440,000 USD per noggin

I think that's only if you take in OVERALL debt of the country including multinationals registered here for tax breaks etc.

14-06-2010 11:52AM

djhunter30 wrote: »

Its alright, the Afghans will see none of that more than likely. By the time the yanks leave it will all be plundered and Afghanistan will resemble Central Africa, barren and useless to most.

Cause they were having such a great laugh before the Americans under the taliban yeah?

If MUSIC etc was banned in Ireland for being against Catholicism I personally would be dying for the yanks to come.

orourkeda · 14-06-2010 11:55AM

The_Minister wrote: »

(is that enough zeros for a trillion?).
Link

Article is too long to quote (two pages), but essentially Afghanistan could, if developed, become one of the wealthiest countries in the Middle East, instead of one of the poorest.

Will this end the war in Afghanistan, or exacerbate it?

Perhaps this is cynical or wide of the mark but is this wealth the cause of the war (the real cause)

There has been a theory forwarded that the heroin trade is a part of the reason the war continues.

L.Jenkins · 14-06-2010 11:55AM

Rojomcdojo wrote: »

Cause they were having such a great laugh before the Americans under the taliban yeah?

If MUSIC etc was banned in Ireland for being against Catholicism I personally would be dying for the yanks to come.

I'm not talking about the political issues of Afghanistan, I'm stating that they won't see much of $1 trillion. How many Chemical Engineers do you think live in Afghanistan that aren't foreigners.

Banned Account · 14-06-2010 12:19PM

djhunter30 wrote: »

I'm not talking about the political issues of Afghanistan, I'm stating that they won't see much of $1 trillion. How many Chemical Engineers do you think live in Afghanistan that aren't foreigners.

36?

Did I win?

14 then, definately 14

Whats the prize?

Elevator · 14-06-2010 01:21PM

orourkeda wrote: »

Perhaps this is cynical or wide of the mark but is this wealth the cause of the war (the real cause)

There has been a theory forwarded that the heroin trade is a part of the reason the war continues.

you bet it certainly adds up to be one of reasons they're in the country alright, such an amount of monies to be made each year in smack production

ya got to wonder how they miss the poppy fields when they're capable of searching 70% of the country from the skies

ScumLord · 14-06-2010 01:27PM

Fitzcaraldo wrote: »

36?

Did I win?

14 then, definately 14

Whats the prize?

The correct answer is one four year old boy, you where close though. The prise is the title of lead Chemical engineer in Afghanistan. You even get your own armoured company car.

El Siglo · 14-06-2010 01:29PM

History repeating itself.

happyeveryday · 14-06-2010 02:29PM

peasant wrote: »

Ah no, that would be us (not US, us) ...depending on who's figures you believe, our debt per capita is about ten times that at around 440,000 USD per noggin

Where did you get the 440,000 USD figure?

WindSock · 14-06-2010 02:44PM

happyeveryday wrote: »

Where did you get the 440,000 USD figure?

Yeah, I thought it was €10k pps. Don't know if that translates to $440 though. Might in this CEC.

happyeveryday · 14-06-2010 03:09PM

More then 10k, windsock.

National Debt at 31/12/09 - €75.2 Billion see link.

Estimate that at 90billion now. Current population is 4.4 million that equals approx €20,500 pp.

If you believe the media we could add 500billion to our commitments presently to account for bank guarantees, NAMA and Anglo Irish. But you should then accept the assets of the country too....but we'll leave that out for now.

Thats now 590billion or 134k pp.

SIX PACK · 14-06-2010 03:56PM

thetonynator wrote: »

The Americans will prob invade and take everything leaving a destroyed country with no hope of developing in the next 50 years . . .wait . . .that sounds familiar . . . .

Your ignorance amuses me...

Killer Pigeon · 14-06-2010 03:59PM

hmmmm, I think we should invade it so ... damn the US got there before us.

dlofnep · 14-06-2010 04:08PM

As if the Afghani's will see any of that.

ScumLord · 14-06-2010 04:29PM

Killer Pigeon wrote: »

hmmmm, I think we should invade it so ... damn the US got there before us.

With our abundance of water and their minerals we could have made a fortune.

Afghanistan has nearly $1,000,000,000,000 in mineral wealth.

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