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Why Afghanistan?
By Thomas D. Segel
April 11, 2002

Why are we in Afghanistan? The reason voiced by most officials are because the country was providing a safe haven for terrorists. Since that situation has been somewhat resolved, they now say we went there to liberate the country. Of course, there is also the sidebar information presented about us stopping the growing of opium Poppies. Does all of this answer the question? No.

I first asked this question 22 years ago in an article published on January 31, 1980. The words written then still apply today. At that time I related the question to the Soviet Union - Afghan conflict and the answer was Afghanistan had significant strategic value to the Russian leadership. For the Soviets it would have provided a doorway from which those aggressors could enter the gulf region and secure for themselves three quarters of the world's available oil.

There was another reason why that small undeveloped country was important to the Russians, and remains important to any consuming nation. Afghanistan has a vast abundance of natural resources.

For centuries Afghanistan has remained untouched by the exploiters and the developers. There has been detailed exploration to determine the extent of the country's hidden natural wealth. Still, the complexities of its many governments and the national distrust of all foreigners has restricted development.

As the world searches for more and more sources of energy, the hidden treasure trove in Afghanistan becomes more and more valuable. It is known there is an abundance of coal buried deep in its rugged hill country. There are also known deposits of gold, silver, chromate, beryl, barite, iron, copper and other ores. It is believed the land contains high quality uranium. A high quality grade of the semiprecious stone lapis lazuli has already been discovered.

In this land of tribal conflicts and war lords are huge pockets of natural gas, which the Soviets exploited for their own use during those years when it was engaged in hostilities with the Afghans. If there is abundant natural gas, reasonable thinking should also point toward the possibility of oil. Speak with anyone who knows the business of oil and they will tell you regions which produce natural gas have the same geological makeup as those which offer up rich petroleum fields.

Why Afghanistan? Well, it is a land filled with natural resources which become more necessary and valuable to the world with each passing year.

The country now has an important international friend and partner in the United States. And why should we care? Just look at the shopping list.