Crumbling Pipeline Infrastructure In Afghanistan Gives Insight To KXL Pipeline
We have seen, based on the allocation of funds to developing infrastructure in Afghanistan, that Congress seems to value foreign development much more than domestic infrastructure (maintenance and improvement). We have spent more in Iraq’s and Afghanistan’s reconstruction than we did post World War II in Germany. Our own crumbling roads, bridges, utilities and water systems are in a sad state, but we have seen the work of subcontractors abroad given preferential treatment. However, Afghanistan is having a problem of its own in the transport of gas and oil.
U.S. spent more than $100 billion in infrastructure in Afghanistan and IraqPipelines explode more often than we are told. This is an explosion in WyomingU.S. officials are warning that wide-ranging deficiencies in an aging 55-mile gas pipeline in Afghanistan could lead to a “catastrophic failure” if the United States does not take immediate steps to repair vulnerable areas.
Pipelines need constant monitoring and maintenance. If the more well-funded foreign projects are in a state of disrepair, it is only portends our future when it comes to hazardous, domestic transport of oil and gas.
Domestically, Republicans have been overwhelmingly unphased by environmental hazards in this country. They want looser regulations when it comes to the EPA. With the far-right 114th Congress on the horizon, it’s going to be a tough battle for opponents of the Keystone XL Pipeline. This will bring oil through the United States’ breadbasket regions and send it out of the Gulf of Mexico via the Texas coast.
If history repeats itself, and it does far too often, this pipeline, which has already seen environmental disasters, will prove to be a very dangerous liability. Keystone does nothing for boosting long-term job creation and facilitating our own energy independence. TransCanada has a very sketchy record of safety. Once American politicians, especially those on the Republican side of the aisle, have their coffers plumped up by dirty oil money, what are the incentives to keep the nation safe?
Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: VegasJessie
A resident of Las Vegas Nevada, a graduate of the University of Oklahoma as a Political Science major. Very motivated to get people to participate in the electoral process.
24 responses to Crumbling Pipeline Infrastructure In Afghanistan Gives Insight To KXL Pipeline
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tiredoftea December 16th, 2014 at 16:48
How is it that the government paying for building private infrastructure in the Middle East is a good thing, but it’s socialism here?
mea_mark December 16th, 2014 at 16:58
Because when it is done over there, corrupt fingers can get into everything. When your fingers are grabbing a piece of the pie, all is good, regardless of morals.
Hirightnow December 16th, 2014 at 17:32
I want a pallet of money…
Suzanne McFly December 16th, 2014 at 17:45
That was classic.
Hirightnow December 16th, 2014 at 18:03
:P
Tommy6860 December 16th, 2014 at 17:27
Well it good because the large corporations building the infrastructure in those countries fund the campaigns of their congressional servants. Plus, the people in those countries don’t have voting power on the money we give out.
tiredoftea December 16th, 2014 at 17:48
How is it that the government paying for building private infrastructure in the Middle East is a good thing, but it’s socialism here?
mea_mark December 16th, 2014 at 17:58
Because when it is done over there, corrupt fingers can get into everything. When your fingers are grabbing a piece of the pie, all is good, regardless of morals.
Hirightnow December 16th, 2014 at 18:32
I want a pallet of money…
Suzanne McFly December 16th, 2014 at 18:45
That was classic.
Hirightnow December 16th, 2014 at 19:03
:P
Tommy6860 December 16th, 2014 at 18:27
Well it good because the large corporations building the infrastructure in those countries fund the campaigns of their congressional servants. Plus, the people in those countries don’t have voting power on the money we give out.
edmeyer_able December 16th, 2014 at 16:51
>U.S. spent more than $100 billion in infrastructure in Afghanistan and Iraq.
May have been spent but I have the feeling only 5% of that figure was the actual cost of the construction.
TeapartyCrasher December 16th, 2014 at 17:08
Absolutely. Perhaps Halliburton doesn’t do domestic infrastructure because they’re so corrupt, more people in the USA will recognize their absence of ethics.
edmeyer_able December 16th, 2014 at 17:51
>U.S. spent more than $100 billion in infrastructure in Afghanistan and Iraq.
May have been spent but I have the feeling only 5% of that figure was the actual cost of the construction.
TeapartyCrasher December 16th, 2014 at 18:08
Absolutely. Perhaps Halliburton doesn’t do domestic infrastructure because they’re so corrupt, more people in the USA will recognize their absence of ethics.
edmeyer_able December 16th, 2014 at 17:19
One thing that has bothered me since I 1st saw the stat in 2011 is that Afghanistan is estimated to have mineral wealth worth 3 trillion and few people in their country will benefit from it..
edmeyer_able December 16th, 2014 at 18:19
One thing that has bothered me since I 1st saw the stat in 2011 is that Afghanistan is estimated to have mineral wealth worth 3 trillion and few people in their country will benefit from it..
Tommy6860 December 16th, 2014 at 17:35
This is not only sickening, but frightening as well. Considering we readily spend money bombing and killing people in foreign countries, we also then rebuild them to make the mega-corps enriched on the back of US taxpayers.
I have a bad feeling the Keystone pipeline bill will pass and we will be screwed when the disaster happens. I am hoping that an environmentally concerned legislator will insert a caveat, that if a spill or disaster happens, the private industry has to foot the whole bill of cleaning up the mess and compensating the losses of farmers and small businesses, while offsetting any related cost increases related to the disaster.
edmeyer_able December 16th, 2014 at 17:48
You’re kidding right, Jindal just passed a bill making it illegal to sue oil companies for spills. Besides they just hide their assets and declare bankruptcy, look what happened in Ohio when Duke polluted the river and everyones drinking water.
Then the owner tried to say he was just a part time consultant till he was exposed on Maddow last week.
http://www.forwardprogressives.com/bobby-jindals-outrageous-betrayal-of-louisiana/
Tommy6860 December 16th, 2014 at 18:35
This is not only sickening, but frightening as well. Considering we readily spend money bombing and killing people in foreign countries, we also then rebuild them to make the mega-corps enriched on the back of US taxpayers.
I have a bad feeling the Keystone pipeline bill will pass and we will be screwed when the disaster happens. I am hoping that an environmentally concerned legislator will insert a caveat, that if a spill or disaster happens, the private industry has to foot the whole bill of cleaning up the mess and compensating the losses of farmers and small businesses, while offsetting any related cost increases related to the disaster.
edmeyer_able December 16th, 2014 at 18:48
You’re kidding right, Jindal just passed a bill making it illegal to sue oil companies for spills. Besides they just hide their assets and declare bankruptcy, look what happened in Ohio when Duke polluted the river and everyones drinking water.
Then the owner tried to say he was just a part time consultant till he was exposed on Maddow last week.
http://www.forwardprogressives.com/bobby-jindals-outrageous-betrayal-of-louisiana/
fancypants December 16th, 2014 at 19:02
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fancypants December 16th, 2014 at 20:02
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