LDS Freedom Forum

Patience is urged in Afghanistan
Pentagon officials said results would come in time, and Gen. Petraeus backed Obama's pullout deadline
WASHINGTON - Senior Pentagon officials urged patience Wednesday as U.S. troops begin operations to stabilize the southern Afghan city of Kandahar, and Gen. David Petraeus, the commander of U.S. forces in the Mideast, returned to Capitol Hill to offer a full-throated endorsement of President Obama's order to pull out of Afghanistan starting next summer.

Afghan Mineral Wealth May Be Greater: $3 Trillion
Thursday, 17 Jun 2010 07:27 AM

Afghanistan's untapped mineral wealth is worth at least $3 trillion — triple a U.S. estimate, according to the government's top mining official, who is going to Britain next week to attract investors to mine one of the world's largest iron ore deposits in the war-torn nation.

Geologists have known for decades that Afghanistan has vast deposits of iron, copper, cobalt, gold and other prized minerals, but a U.S. Department of Defense briefing this week put a startling, nearly $1 trillion price tag on the reserves. Minister of Mines Wahidullah Shahrani said Thursday that he's seen geological assessments and industry estimates that the minerals are worth at least $3 trillion.

"Afghanistan has huge untapped natural energy and mineral resources which have enormous potential for our economic development," Shahrani said. "Ensuring that this is done in the most transparent and efficient way while delivering the greatest value to the country is a priority of the government."