Keeping the Goats Away From the Poppies

I would say this will be a mixed blessing:

New York Times: U.S. Discovers Nearly $1 Trillion in Afghan Mineral Deposits

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, according to senior American government officials.

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.

If this discovery really does alter the dynamic of the war in favor of the U.S. (as opposed to stalemate or even defeat), then we can go back to thinking that President Obama, on top of his many talents,  really is one lucky man.

How come no one discovered these deposits before?

At very least, the economy will be transformed from the current model (known as "Keep the Goats Away from the Poppies") to something more modern.