So much for the Gold Rush.

Did you know that the U.S. Military is providing security for the Chinese government, as the Chinese are taking Copper from Afghanistan?

$88 Billion in Copper, to be exact.

The Chinese apparently won the rights from the Afghan government (who was set free courtesy of the U.S.), to mine valuable Copper from the valley Southwest of Kabul, Afghanistan.  There are an estimated 240 million tons of Copper ore which will help China sustain its insatiable appetite for growth, since Copper is used in everything from to batteries to electrical wires to computers.  (Copper has become an in-demand commodity even in the U.S., as telephone utilities seek to more vigorously protect their Copper wiring from poachers.)

According to McClatchy Newspapers, "...the U.S. Army is providing the security that will enable China to exploit one of the world's largest unexploited deposits of copper, earn tens of billions of dollars and feed its voracious appetite for raw materials."

So, why is the U.S. Military providing security for the Chinese?

U.S. Military experts say the original intent wasn’t to provide security for the Chinese, but that the road leading into the Copper mine was becoming rife with warfare, so the U.S. set up camp just outside of it.  Second, the Copper endeavor will reportedly provide thousands of jobs over the next 7 years, and let’s face it, “jobs” equal “stability” in that country. That makes sense.

What doesn’t make sense is the U.S. Military putting forth its men so that another nation can profit. Especially a nation who rarely has our best interest in mind.   

 After all, China provides significantly fewer resources to the War on Terror in Afghanistan than the U.S. does.  But the Chinese are doing what the Chinese do best – taking full advantage of a crisis.

My question is, shouldn’t the U.S. Government require that a certain amount of the Copper proceeds go to the U.S. to pay for the protective services we provide?  Or at the very least, some of the funds go toward paying for the War in Afghanistan?

The blood of our American soldiers has been shed for freedom for the Afghan people. Shedding blood so that the Chinese can become rich? Well, that’s just beyond the call of duty.