You have to pity those who do not understand. Both countries (Canada and China) are overexcitedly leaping aboard the latest oilrush pipedream. Luckily, the United States will be spared embarassment, due to the measured advice from it's lawmakers and the oil industry.
It's all about oil shale. Every barrell of the oily sludge pumped from these sandy underground strata can be turned into half a barrell of oil. And the USA is sitting on enough oil shale to rival the Middle East -up to 1.9 trillion barrels. All you have to do is burn another barrel and a half to provide the energy.
Juan we have oil. Oil is not the reason for being in Afghanistan.