There are rare earth minerals in Afghanistan but as mentioned hard to mine with armed
opponents. Robotics may resolve this. Perhaps Elbonia will provide protection for the Asteroid
in orbit around the moon with their rocket if they can just resolve the orphanage roof problem.
I laukgh at the moonwalk belilevers who ignore the 500 pages of evidence in Dark Moon that they didn't. The monwalk believers never explain why every mission since the alleged Apollo ones never go beyond the Van Allen radiation belt. As for a secret space program.... it's like religious mystery...having to be accepted on faith.