The Mineral Wars

You do not just happen upon colossal amounts of valuable mineral deposits in a war-torn country unless you are looking for them. US geologists have discovered an estimated $1 trillion dollars of gold, iron, copper and lithium in contested areas of Afghanistan. Prospecting companies take decades to locate and verify rich seams of valuable minerals and fossil fuels. It takes years to determine the ease of their extraction. In the wake of the 9/11 bombings, Afghanistan is one of the wars even fairly cynical people regard as moderately just and understandable.

In light of subsequent wars fought against ‘terrorist groups’ or ‘rogue nations’, even US motivations to go into Afghanistan have been brought into question. After all, the United States has never actually caught Osama Bin Laden. Other nations have taken to brokering peace with terrorist groups (e.g. the IRA) rather than all out military confrontation. Looking back in a generalised, history book-style fashion, the late twentieth century and early twenty first century will be seen to be dominated by mineral wars fought under the guise of a ‘War on Terror’. Taking place right before the world’s eyes is a resource-snatching exercise, whereby western nations venture imperialistically into other parts of the world. They do this on the premise of dealing with terrorist threats but are in fact only bolstering their dwindling energy reserves and economies. Of course, the US is going to want a healthy share of the mineral resources in Afghanistan in reparation for their ‘efforts’ within the country. About $1 trillion should cover it. Lithium also has a special significance given its extensive use in the computer and mobile phone industry. This is a highly sought-after metal during a global technology- boom.

What of the true terror in our world? What of the countries rich in human-rights abuses, dictatorship and innocent deaths, but poor in mineral resources? Their present existence will continue and the evil within them will be allowed to fester, since no country in the United Nations appears to have any intention of taking a war on terror to a place with unprofitable prospects.