Obama to lay down Afghanistan exit timetable

[Mr Khan]

Kasz216 said:

famousringo said:

Kasz216 said:

famousringo said:

Kasz216 said:

 

That's the funny thing... Afghanistan doesn't even have any oil.

As I understand it, it would be a great place to run a pipeline through... if it were stable.

But I agree that energy isn't a substantial reason for the invasion of Afghanistan.

Pipeline to who?

Unless it were going through Pakistan to the east.  Which itself isn't a bastion of stability.

A little Google reveals plans for a natural gas pipeline from Turkmenistan, through Afghanistan and, yes, Pakistan to deliver to India:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Afghanistan_Pipeline

There were some proposals for adding an oil pipeline:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan_Oil_Pipeline

And if you want the take of the conspiracy theorists:

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig/sardi7.html

Pakistan was more stable back in those days, or at least seemed to be, under Musharraf.

Eh, somewhat more stable but anyone paying attention knew that keg was going to burst sooner or later.

 

It was always a somewhat half-baked idea to get at Turkmen natural gas without having to deal with the Russian consortiums (and thus, Russia herself). Certainly not worth the wars waged for an idea that would be rather tenuous even if Afghanistan were stable.