Article DetailsJP Morgan is One Reason we are still in Afghanistan | ||||||
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 It has long been argued that wars are fought for economic reasons. World War 2 brought about the rise of the “Swiss Bank Account” where money seized in war could be hidden from others. While there can be numerous reasons for going to war, money tends to be a central focus in all wars. The public discourse might be more about “stopping evil doers” or “defeating terrorists”, it is always important to follow the money trail, and understand who is benefiting.In the case of Afghanistan, this is a country with an enormous wealth of resources including gold, copper, lead, zinc, rare earth elements and iron ore. It appears that a big part of the US strategy in Afghanistan is to “get the economy going”. A large part of Afghanistan’s GDP right now comes from foreign aid and the drug trade. Lots of heroine comes from Afghanistan! After arranging for investors from around the World to take part, JP Morgan is now arranging contracts for gold and other minerals. General Petraeus said “Wonderful!” as he learned of the arrangement. There are reports of JP Morgan execs working with the Pentagon, flying around on blackhawk helicopters to identify mine sites and start making arrangements for mining contracts. It appears the level of effort going into getting mining operations started has intensified in the last few years. A google search for JP Morgan Afghanistan might be a good place to start further study. There is also a more extensive article in the May 23, 2011 issue of Fortune magazine. Discussion Questions: 1. Would mining contracts help move the Afghanistan economy forward? 2. Since the US are the invaders, is it our responsibility to facilitate business contracts? | ||||||
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David DuVal
Thursday 2nd of June 2011 07:41:17
A related point to yours Julie is also that much of our defense budget now goes to third parties like Haliburton rather than directly to the troops. With corporate profits directly related to the continuation of war, there starts to be some MAJOR ethics questions. 
Drew Schaefer
Friday 3rd of June 2011 08:35:31
The military was 'bummed out' that all the people they dealt with through Congress (meaning the aides and lobbyists) were doing their 'revolving door' act, as we've all read about for a half-century... so this 'out-sourcing' began, as officers reached their 20- or 25-year service retirements, providing them a 'way in' to the gravy-train... Julie TR is correct also (although I'd not heard "3.4T" before (thus her link becomes the evening's reading!
Drew Schaefer
Thursday 2nd of June 2011 04:34:33
Hi new Page... just an FYI... having lived near Geneva for twelve years: 'Swiss Banks' go waaaaay back, and current rumours (which could well be fact) include that up to 40pc of the 'fortunes' managed in some of the old-name smaller Swiss banks based in Geneva, are actually the fortunes of the French aristocracy, 'exported' before the French Revolution... Which only adds historical basis to what was stated...
David DuVal
Thursday 2nd of June 2011 07:39:30
Oh yea, and some of the wealthiest families in the world have controversy swirling about how they became wealthy during times of war. I think you are right that it goes back well past WW2. Thanks for mentioning that.
Drew Schaefer
Thursday 2nd of June 2011 09:14:53
David I had the absolutely coolest-old landlord/neighbour/Swiss 'Grandpa' (coming up on 92 in July!! knock wood knock knock) His WW II story, about the attempt (successful) to transit a Jewish guy, from (our bourg was on French border, north of northernmost FR Alpes: on lake border, thus 'straight across' took them from FR(Nazi) to 'safety'... Yet this guy would NOT allow my 'papi-cheri' to carry his suitcase: most refugees were so exhausted (no Hollywood caterers there: heh heh) that that was their first request! Another 'rumour', from a fairly wacked woman, was that my very neighbours' house and wealth (I had a dinky--happy studio, under 4 floors of a 480yr-old stone, lakeside 'townhome' (find one o' my Swiss photo albums sometime...)), was from their own 'dealings' with refugees (some perhaps who "never made it across the lake")... I wanted to believe that one because they were the rudest people in town (and second wealthiest...). I could tell you stories but we'd have to be private msg... (smile)
David DuVal
Friday 3rd of June 2011 05:01:00
Yea, there was definitely some crazy money stories I'm sure with suitcases full of money, etc. I bet it was cool to stand there by the lake and live in the house and imagine what might have transpired. Thanks for sharing your story. | ||||||
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Stephen Maples I have mixed feelings about all this as there really is no regulation of these corporations that will be arranging the contracts. If it reduced the drug trade, and allowed for more honest enterprises, it could be good for the Afghan people. However, I don't like our soldiers working longer so corporations can get their foot in the door. There is something "dirty" about that.