Re:U.S. Discovers Est. $1 Trillion of Minerals in Afghanistan
by tptacek on Sunday June 13, 2010 @11:08PM
(#1428735)
Most of the supposed reasons behind the "curse" assume that there's an already-functioning economy to wreck. Minerals in Afghanistan aren't going to wreck their nonexistent licit agriculture output. Further, Afghanistan is already in a state of chronic intense conflict, which neutralizes another arm of the "curse".
[ Parent
| on HN ]
Re:U.S. Discovers Est. $1 Trillion of Minerals in Afghanistan
by MichaelSalib on Sunday June 13, 2010 @11:14PM
(#1428749)
The presence of vast mineral wealth will encourage the continuation of chronic intense conflict. And as long as said conflict continues, foreign investment will be very limited, which means it will be very difficult to begin large scale mining operations.
If you were a mining engineer, would you want to travel to Afghanistan and spend a year or two setting up a new mine there?
Re:U.S. Discovers Est. $1 Trillion of Minerals in Afghanistan
by tptacek on Sunday June 13, 2010 @11:34PM
(#1428783)
Conflict in Afghanistan was going to continue until the West left. Would I want to live in Afghanistan to set up a new mine? Depends on how much you paid me. There are already many tens of thousands of private contractors in war zones.