More Afghan pipeline nonsense

Rounding up the usual conspiracy theories--letter in the Toronto Star:

Pipeline a long-standing plan TheStar.com - Opinion - Pipeline a long-standing plan

August 28, 2009

Re:Enough of the Afghanistan war `racket,'

Letter, Aug. 27

Letter writer Graeme Gardiner refers to "... the TAPI pipeline planned to go directly through Kandahar, and American wishes to have NATO guard pipelines in the future" and implies that pipeline is a major reason for the Canadian presence in Afghanistan. Nonsense.

There is indeed a long-standing plan to transport natural gas produced in Turkmenistan by pipeline through Afghanistan to Pakistan and maybe India (the TAPI countries). But that is hardly a vital national security or capitalist interest for the U.S. or for other NATO members. Moreover, the participating countries will own the pipeline. And, given current conditions, such a pipeline is not likely to be built for quite a while.

Mark Collins, Ottawa

References sent with original:
http://www.upi.com/Energy_Resources/2009/06/18/Progress-on-TAPI-pipeline-in-doubt/UPI-29261245335324/
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2009\05\14\story_14-5-2009_pg7_16
http://www.financialexpress.com/news/gail-to-lay-tapi-pipeline/302755/ (see para 2)