"The United States has discovered nearly $1 trillion in untapped mineral deposits in Afghanistan, far beyond any previously known reserves and enough to fundamentally alter the Afghan economy and perhaps the Afghan war itself..."

Reports the NYT:

The previously unknown deposits — including huge veins of iron, copper, cobalt, gold and critical industrial metals like lithium — are so big and include so many minerals that are essential to modern industry that Afghanistan could eventually be transformed into one of the most important mining centers in the world, the United States officials believe.

Wow. Great. Of course...

“The big question is, can this be developed in a responsible way, in a way that is environmentally and socially responsible?... No one knows how this will work.

ADDED: If Afghanistan needs a new national anthem, there's always the greatest grunge song of all time.