About this mineral wealth in Afganistan....

[WCGreen]

There was a blurb on the NPR this morning about how the US was laying not claim to the mineral wealth in Afghanistan. In fact there were encouragements being made toward China, well enticements would be a better word, to step in to develop the mineral wealth.

This has a couple of implications.

First, it would engage China in an area that might be easier for them to contain, stability wise. After all, the al-Quiada crowd doesn't feel all that friendly to China as it is since the People's Republic of China doesn't cotton to fanatical religious problems threatening to spill over the boarder.

This would also curtail China's increasing muddling in African affairs.

But what this also says to this very cynical man is the two major powers for the next century, China and the US, will be setting up clear spheres of influence that will transcend the ideological froth of the twentieth century and get back to what worked best for the economic elite; mercantilism.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Wow. I for one had given no thought to this perspective.

Just wow.

[gateley]

2. Me either. This is another example of how simple, cut & dried things seem

to us "out here" but there is so much more that goes into their actions.

[dipsydoodle]

3. I don't see the association

with China's investments in Africa. They can afford both and doubtless will pursue both.

[WCGreen]

5. It could be a trade off for the US to leave the sphere of influence..

It could very well pressure China to be more aggressive in promoting Middle East stability since they have a far larger stake in the game.

Since they are expanding their Navy toward the Pacific and into the Indian Ocean, there could be a demilitarizing quid pro quo going on as well.

[Jackpine Radical]

6. It's probably not a bad move in terms

of Realpolitik.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

4. This is what happens when you know history.

You see associations that the rest of us don't.

K&R for your knowledge...

[Nuclear Unicorn]

7. IIRC China is not exactly friendly with India but is tight with Pakistan

Might that aggravate India if China starts exerting itself into areas that could strengthen Pakistan?

[WCGreen]

8. Of course it would...

However, India is not in any position to exploit those mineral resources and if you really think about it, having China getting their hands on the stuff is far better, for India, than allowing Pakistan to cosey on up to Afghanistan and bolster their flagging economy.

India, I believe, would rather have a stable, economically integrated China than a wealthy Pakistan that has millions of Muslim who have sworn to destroy India.

[WCGreen]

9. kick for more opinions on my opinion...