Afghanistan and the new great game - The Toronto Star »
Posted By gamahuche 2 months, 2 weeks ago in News
Why is Afghanistan so important?
A glance at a map and a little knowledge of the region suggest that the real reasons for Western military involvement may be largely hidden.
Afghanistan is adjacent to Middle Eastern countries that are rich in oil and natural gas. And though Afghanistan may have little petroleum itself, it borders both Iran and Turkmenistan, countries with the second and third largest natural gas reserves in the world. (Russia is first.)
Turkmenistan is the country nobody talks about. Its huge reserves of natural gas can only get to market through pipelines. Until 1991, it was part of the Soviet Union and its gas flowed only north through Soviet pipelines. Now the Russians plan a new pipeline north. The Chinese are building a new pipeline east. The U.S. is pushing for "multiple oil and gas export routes." High-level Russian, Chinese and American delegations visit Turkmenistan frequently to discuss energy. The U.S. even has a special envoy for Eurasian energy diplomacy.
Rivalry for pipeline routes and energy resources reflects competition for power and control in the region. Pipelines are important today in the same way that railway building was important in the 19th century. They connect trading partners and influence the regional balance of power. Afghanistan is a strategic piece of real estate in the geopolitical struggle for power and dominance in the region.
Since the 1990s, Washington has promoted a natural gas pipeline south through Afghanistan. The route would pass through Kandahar province. In 2007, Richard Boucher, U.S. assistant secretary of state, said: "One of our goals is to stabilize Afghanistan," and to link South and Central Asia "so that energy can flow to the south." Oil and gas have motivated U.S. involvement in the Middle East for decades. Unwittingly or willingly, Canadian forces are supporting American goals.
The proposed pipeline is called TAPI, after the initials of the four participating countries (Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India). Eleven high-level planning meetings have been held during the past seven years, with Asian Development Bank sponsorship and multilateral support (including Canada's). Construction is planned to start next year.
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gamahuche
"I would rather be a square peg than fit in a pigeon hole" -
an essay which won me the "Lamb Essay Prize" at the Religious ...
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gamahuche2 months, 2 weeks ago
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The Great Game Mk2; a timely reminder of the big picture - and one which
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When one gets caught up in the minutiae of what's happening on a day-to-day basis on the ground or in the corridors of political power sometimes a salutary reminder of the bigger picture is helpful. I hope this is it - tracking it down from a Czech mention was an adventure, but worthwhile if it strikes a chord..-
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hyperbola2 months, 2 weeks ago
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The "great game" is all over central Asia at present. Apart from Iran, Georgia and a pipeline for Caspian oil is the other prime example. This is why the US "supports" an authoritarian regime in Georgia that is good friends with the NeoCons -our NeoCon israel-firsters and the israelis were pocketing small fortunes by "catering" to Georgia, even though Georgians themselves are fed up with their government - and why the US is so keen to have military bases on the Black Sea (Bulgaria).
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Endoscopy2 months, 2 weeks ago
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The obscene one is at it again. Trying to push greed as the only reason for doing things.
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There are other reasons that do not include money at all but the obscene one never wants to look at the moral and ethical issues. He ignores how we got there in the first place. We were attacked and the ones that claimed responsibility and the proof that they were correct started it. We asked the government of Afghanistan for the people responsible. They refused. After some back and forth we invaded because of the over 3,000 dead at the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and the fourth plane that was prevented from getting to its objective. I guess we were just supposed to turn our back on this flea bite. Silly libs.
After we took control we have tried to establish some sort of government there. But the Muslim terrorists who were involved with cooperated with the attack want to put back in place a very hateful version of sharia law and kill anyone who opposes them because they believe their wishes are from Allah by way of the Quran and hadith.
The liberals want to ignore these issues. We are fighting there the very same people that caused those planes to hit. They are also the same groups that are still trying to have Muslims here do more attacks on this country. The law changes that the libs rant about have prevented them from being successful so far. Why do the libs want us to be defenseless against them?
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berkeley2 months, 2 weeks ago
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this is what empires do. obama is now the leader of the empire. he's not allowed to say why he wants to keep the afghan war going. he probably doesn't even want to be there. but he knows he can't just leave because of the facts in this article.
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public discourse has ignored the agenda of military domination for decades. obama is just another cog in that relentless wheel. if he tried to act differently, they'd kill him.-
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Jaydee402 months, 2 weeks ago
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"if he tried to act differently, they'd kill him."
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That was not a good enough defense at the Nuremberg trials was it? Last I heard the president was a job you volunteered for, he wanted this job so do it according to law or die trying. Is it not better for a leader to stand up and do what is right then to keep sending kids to die at the hands of people fighting for their very own freedom. Canadian troops were to of been pulled out this year but Harper made a further commitment until 2011, but he says there will be no extension beyond that. -
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blowback2 months, 2 weeks ago
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> if he tried to act differently, they'd kill him.
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Consider that he was hand-picked and groomed.
They all are.
Democracy is a deception.
We only choose the product.
They, the profiteers of the system, manufacture it.
They manufacture our consent for their system
and our consent for their products.
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rightfromwrong2 months, 2 weeks ago
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more imperialism...by the time it is completed America will pay in blood, through the nose as the dollar continues to depreciate quickly all with a continued higher deficit. Meanwhile the corporate fascists will continue to strangle what is left of the middle class.
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More disaster capitalism!!!! -
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canadianrancher572 months, 2 weeks ago
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I guess I am at times one that does believe that there are certain things going on in the world that most of us are unaware of or can do much about. This article makes me think back to after President Obama was elected and was ALLOWED to sit in on security briefings to be brought up to speed on about situations and threats around the world, after being ALLOWED to sit in on these briefings his tone changed about some of the situations in the world and how his government would react to them. I really wonder now what is meant when you are brought up to speed on world events, does it mean that those who run things explain to you what your policy is going to be and that you best not interfere, As for Canada's involvement in some of these things, you have to understand the relationship of big oil and Canadian energy. We don't have a very bright bunch of politicians up here and when Uncle Sam says get in line, well they get in line.
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earthlingerer2 months, 2 weeks ago
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GASP! You mean it's not about "the war of terrorism?"
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What seems to be sadly missed by most reports is the Israeli impetus behind the pipelines which will pump oil to Turkey and Israeli terminals. Also why they were behind the Georgian war so much...
Too bad it's another thing that Israel will never, ever, get. Besides credibility and a national soul.
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