Why is US taking credit for "significant find" in Afghanistan when Russia already knew, as well as China?

Question

NY Times Jun 13, 2010
U.S. Identifies Vast Riches of Minerals in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON — The United States has discovered nearly $1 trillion in untapped mineral deposits in Afghanistan, far beyond any previously known reserves and enough to fundamentally alter the Afghan economy and perhaps the Afghan war itself, according to senior American government officials.
The previously unknown deposits — including huge veins of iron, copper, cobalt, gold and critical industrial metals like lithium — are so big and include so many minerals that are essential to modern industry that Afghanistan could eventually be transformed into one of the most important mining centers in the world, the United States officials have reported.

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But this is no more than a propaganda action. It's not "new" as the
Russians found it when they were there; and the Chinese are already
mining it. Just like they're (the Chinese) already drilling for oil
in Iraq.
The US government must think we are all stupid, or that all we read are stateside newspapers, or that we all watch CNN, Fox and MSNBC.
Truth is, this "news" has been available for years.
Oh.
I imagine it is because the US now sees a way to keep troops in Afghanistan indefinitely, and to go about their thieving ways, as usual, and to claim a new "discovery" which has already been discovered.

US Government!!!! Most of us have internet services and know "news" long before you know. !!! (Pathetic)

Answer 1

Taking credit for things you didn't do is the American Way.

Answer 2

If the US takes credit for the discovery then all the time/$$/lives lost in Afghanistan doesn't look so bad now, right??



There' will be some US citizens thinking that the US can take advantage of this once they finally overtake Afghanistan. It's actually an extremely good pro-war headline concerning the US occupation in Afghanistan.



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Your comment that the US must think we're all stupid .... well, if you can fool the majority with BS then don't worry about the minority which can actually call the bluff. Majority usually wins when deciding actions for everyone.



It's the way of politics & marketing.



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These resources will help the US justify permanently keeping a force there also.

Answer 3

Dont pay attention to what those idiots are asserting on the different solutions (its an excellent question). yet for the U. S. to win a conflict against China or Russia is diverse to battling consumer-friendly terrorists... China and Russia are government militaries so in the event that they go through defeats their governments will authorise surrenders and peace treaties, in spite of the undeniable fact that for the duration of vietnam the U. S. have been faceing the regulars and civilans and the widespread public of those fought at their own accord like they do in Iraq etc

Answer 4

I guess once the dollar value comes into view it means it is in the US national interest to stay in Afghanistan forever to protect their interests in those resources. Now the value of staying has a number.

Answer 5

The question isn't whether there are minerals there, it's whether they are economic -- that is, can you make a profit by going after them.



Mineral deposits that were non-economic 30 years ago may be economic today.

Answer 6

Don't believe the headlines, US is not taking credit, they are revealing surveys done by Russia long ago. I am sure there is a motive for putting out this info now.

Answer 7

We all know that they probably already knew. They will exploit the "findings" then when all the stuff is used up leave.



I think we should just get out of there when the job is done, and not linger.

Answer 8

Some habits are just too hard to break I guess.

Answer 9

we have created an affirmative action generation