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They're calling it the Saudi Arabia of lithium. The U.S. has uncovered a reported $1 trillion worth of minerals including lithium, iron, copper, cobalt and gold, but it is uncertain whether this is a positive find, or if it will be incentive to continue the war between the U.S. and Afghanistan.

We're analyzing coverage from Russia Today, The New York Times, Huffington Post, Sky News and the Auburn Journal.

An investigative journalist tells Russia Today that the news of the mineral discovery is politically motivated.

"It's a very important thing, but it's not new. So, the question is, what are we dealing with here? This is a planted story. The purpose of the planted story is, at the higher level, to organize a consensus to keep the war going."

According to The New York Times, who broke the story, Afghan officials were ecstatic about the discovery.

"...some Afghan reporters excitedly calculated among themselves how much each Afghan would theoretically get if the mineral treasure trove were divided equally. ...that would give each Afghan man, woman and child $34,482.76."

A writer for the Huffington Post says the find is no reason to celebrate.

"The minerals are worthless unless you can actually get private companies to come in here and mine them. ...The other really bad thing... is that it's really just one more thing for the government here to exploit for bribes."


A contributor for Sky News says the discovery is not a new one.

"I feel so sorry for Afghanistan. It's like, you know, for how many decades has it been clobbered and at last something wonderful has happened, we think. Because they've found these colossal resources of minerals, which apparently the Russians knew about before 1989. They've very strangely ditched and forgot about. They forgot to tell anyone else."


A writer for the Auburn Journal says that even the U.S. has known about the minerals for a long time and that China already bid $3.4 billion on copper deposits two years ago.

"While the United States spills blood and spends hundreds of billions of dollars fighting with the Taliban, China is securing raw minerals for its voracious expanding economy."

So, will the minerals prove to be beneficial or detrimental to the countries involved in the discovery?

 

WRITER: Linden Wilson
PRODUCER: Newsy Staff 

World News

$1 Trillion Worth of Minerals in Afghanistan

June 16, 2010
(2:11)
Massive mineral wealth has been found in Afghanistan. But is this good or bad news?
   
TRANSCRIPT

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