"Afghanistan's Buried Riches Geologists say newfound deposits in the embattled country could fulfill the world's desire for rare earth and critical minerals and end opium's local stranglehold in the process..." http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=afghanistans-buried-riches
America wiped out the Taliban within the first 60 days of the war. 1) Caspian Sea oil pipeline 2) 1 trillion dollar opium trade 3) 1 trillion dollar rare earth metals 4) Military bases neighboring Iran and Pakistan I would also add: 5) Live-fire training zone against a real, but subdued enemy 6) 50 Billion a year backdoor payoff to Defense Contractors (laundering).
Fine, I would rather have the US control the trillion dollar rare earth materials than have some fanatic mullah nation like Iran or Afghanistani Talibian or Psychopathic Pakistan control them. Remember these three nations are not Arabs. In many a ways Arabs represent a milder and more of 'oil drunk' form of Islam. I would make a list of 100 things to do and enjoy..........the day Iran gets its hands on the nukes. God knows how short the life can be once the 'Iranian mullah has a nuclear hardon'. World is already suffering alot from the nuclear armed Pakistan and the show has just begun regarding nuclear proliferation sponsored by bankrupt Pakistan and its fanatic hateful warriors.