Don't Let the Door Hit You

Afghanistan's mineral wealth made the COM recently. The deposits of gold, iron, copper, cobalt, lithium and gold have been known to geologists for decades, but constant warfare has prevented their exploitation. The deposits are believed to be worth $1-3 trillion. After eight years of expending wealth and blood trying to stabilize and modernize Afghanistan, one would assume the United States would be first in line to develope the resources. But our so-called ally in the struggle, President Hamid Karzai, gave the nod to the Japanese on Sunday after a five day visit. Karzai said without a hint of recognizing the irony of his statement that, "Morally, Afghanistan should give access as a priority to those countries that have helped Afghanistan massively in the past few years." Quite a snub from a man who owes his very existence to American military power. Japan has been Afghanistan's No. 2 aid donor for reconstruction, education and health. It has pledged aid of $5 billion over five years. Only now are American officials coming to grip with the recognition that US troops are unwanted by all sides in the country. General McChyrstal has delayed the start of his 'critical' Kandahar operation due to lack of popular support in the region. The US has previously announced that its troops will be withdrawn in the summer of 2011.