Thread by @AlexandraChalup

Photos of Afghanistan in the 1960s, when boys and girls attended school together, rock 'n' roll was popular, and the nation was on a path toward prosperity before the Soviet Union destroyed it and more wars followed. Now, Putin is making his move. businessinsider.com/astonishing-ph…

Why is Putin excited for the US to leave Afghanistan? Afghanistan’’s land holds untapped resources, —like “copper, cobalt, iron, barite, sulfur, lead, silver, zinc, niobium, and 1.4 million metric tons of rare-earth elements,” an estimated $1 trillion worth.

Rare-earth elements and other resources in Afghanistan are vital to the global economy and addressing climate change, as this Koch-funded think tank details and the U.S. military knows well, which is why Putin wanted the U.S. out of the way.
fraserinstitute.org/article/afghan…

U.S. taxpayers funded the military and geological scientists to conduct extensive mapping using advanced technology that provided precise locations for these precious rare-earth elements and other resources. Will Afghanistan benefit from this information? If not, who will?

If Vladimir Putin successfully advances in Afghanistan, he will have a new level of power with access to about a trillion dollars worth in rare earth elements (REEs) the world needs. China is currently the main supplier of REEs.
foreignpolicy.com/2020/07/01/rus…

China evacuated its nationals from Afghanistan as the Taliban tells China not to worry about its buildup along the border. AP: “Chinese companies have invested in Afghan mining and infrastructure, but those assets appear in jeopardy as Taliban seize large amounts of territory.”

India, which once assisted with the overthrow of the Taliban and is considered a “brother nation” to Afghanistan and donated billions and helped build schools and infrastructure, has been secretly meeting with the Taliban, which has a strong hold today.
m.thewire.in/article/diplom…

If he’s still around, Putin may benefit the most from the U.S. troop withdrawal. Who will he likely turn to for help?
His American general of mercenaries, Erik Prince, has a plan.

Who will suffer the most after U.S. troops leave? Afghan women and girls.
militarytimes.com/news/your-mili…

Meanwhile, Putin is busy openly working with the Taliban and flexing his geopolitical strength as China, India, and others meet with his team in the coming days…

https://twitter.com/juliadavisnews/status/1413530595217625092