U.S. and China Work Together to Rebuild Afghanistan

[Turborama]

Source: WSJ

The U.S. and China have formed an uneasy alliance in the effort to build stability in Afghanistan.

By MICHAEL M. PHILLIPS in Momaki, Afghanistan, and SHAI OSTER in Beijing

In a valley long known as a Taliban haven, American troops live alongside Chinese road workers. The troops put their lives on the line protecting the workers. The workers put their lives on the line building a road the U.S. military desperately wants completed.

"Asphalt is ammunition," says Lt. Col. Kimo Gallahue, commander of the 2nd Battalion of the 87th Infantry Regiment, quoting a phrase popular in the military. "Roads are one of the biggest needs in this province."

The Chinese are in Afghanistan mostly to make deals. "This is business -- we can work in Afghanistan or any other country," says Wang Shangkuei, an engineer for China Railway Shisiju Group Corp., a state-owned company with a $50 million contract funded by Italian aid money to grade and pave 33 miles of two-lane road past Momaki village in Wardak province. But, he says, "if there's fighting, we can't do the work."

What's happening in Afghanistan is an extreme example of the way the U.S. and China must work with each other around the globe. China needs the U.S. to protect global trade routes vital to Beijing's export-oriented economy. The U.S. needs China's investment to boost unsteady, but strategically important, economies. Chinese companies were among some of the earliest to re-enter Iraq.

Read more: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124545705106832957.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

[babylonsister]

1. Very cool.

And might I say, the Asian attitude is awesome. Different work ethic than other countries. Much better.

I have secondhand info on that, but I know it's true.

[ddiver]

2. Let them work on N.K. and I'll start clapping hands.

[madeline_con]

3. China Railway Shisiju Group Corp

governed by China, is using aid money to build the road. So, the Chinese gov is being paid to do this, and probably using Chinese troops to do it.


Anything to protect that pipline going thru AFG.

[Turborama]

4. Did you read the article?

Anyway, Re "http://www.911myths.com/html/9_11_and_the_afghan_pipeline.html">that pipline going thru AFG" isn't there a separate forum for conspiracy theories such as this?

[dipsydoodle]

5. Notwithstanding anything else

I thought one was planned for natural gas , but postphoned for now , to suppy Pakistan and India ? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Afghanistan_Pipeline

Yes - it's unlikely that's anything whatsoever to do with the Chinese labour force being there at present.

When pipelines are laid there are generally speaking threats to the local population regarding being shot etc if they divulge the route location, as there were in Georgia for example , and no mention has been made of such threats to my knowledge. Watch this when you have the time : http://www.thedossier.ukonline.co.uk/video_cover-ups.htm Scroll down and look for BBC Storyville - The Curse of Oil. Can be watched using Realplayer. BTW - that site is a compilation of our UK tv documentaries by the BBC and Channel 4 etc.

[madeline_con]

8. So, AFG has no pipeline running through it? Check your facts and get back to me.

[Turborama]

12. What does AFG mean? Afghanistan?

The burden of proof is on you to back up your statements. As far as I can see there is only a proposed pipeline: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trans-Afghanistan_Pipeline

& an oil pipeline that never was: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afghanistan_Oil_Pipeline

I can't see any relation between the WSJ article and a proposed pipeline.

Do you really think Obama is spending all that blood and treasure for some pipeline that other countries would benefit from?

[ixion]

6. building a road for the military does not really constitute "rebuilding"

in my opinion. It constitutes making it easier to blow the crap out of Afghanis by land instead of by air.

Nice try at spin, though, WSJ. :eyes:

[Arctic Dave]

7. My thoughts too. Why can't they use afghani labor?

That to me, would be best. Put them to work.
US throwing contracts to china so they will continue to play cash cow.

[Turborama]

11. It's quite possible they are, the article only mentions Chinese engineers. n/t

[Turborama]

10. China Metallurgical Group and Jiangxi Copper Group agreed to build schools, clinics, markets, mosque

"As part of the deal, China Metallurgical Group and Jiangxi Copper Group agreed to build schools, clinics, markets, mosques and a power plant. The Chinese companies say they will also build a railway expected to link Afghanistan with China, via Pakistan, and open a rail route to the north from the mine. The Afghan government predicts the project will generate 6,000 jobs."

The motive for them building the road is more likely to give them access to the massive iron-ore deposit near Momaki. The Aghan population will benefit because they will have easier access to their capital city for trading etc. As the report says, the Chinese can't build it without the security provided by the army...

"The Afghan Ministry of Mines recently said it will seek bidders to explore for oil or gas in northern Afghanistan and to exploit an estimated 1.8 billion-ton iron-ore deposit in the Hajigak mountains, located west of Momaki along the road that is now under construction. The Chinese are expected to be among the bidders.

As of 2008, Chinese companies had 33 infrastructure projects valued at $480 million under way in Afghanistan, not including the big copper mine, according to Chinese Commerce Ministry data."

"China Railway Shisiju started work in 2006 on the new road past Momaki."



Do you really think Obama has the military in there just to kill for fun?

I'm not surprised at the response this article got here, any news out of Afghanistan has to be bad.

[Blandocyte]

9. C'mon c'mon let's work together

Sorry.