the carts traveling back across border to uzbekistan are usually empty. afghan government has plans to use railways to boost the country's export capacity. experts estimate afghanistan sits on a trillion dollars worth of natural resources including oil, iron, gold and copper. once mines and oil fields are activated, the government intends to export the resources by rail. afghanistan's expansion receives support from the international community. the age and development bank provides some $165 million for construction of rail link. next year it will fund another $2.7 million for feasibility study on expanding the network. >> we have roads that we have constructed. however, as you know, considering the volume of our demand in products, it's not going to be enough. the railway becomes an important component in the development of our demand in the industry. >> reporter: several projects to exploit afghanistan's natural resources are already under way. last month a state-owned chinese company became the first to start large scale commercial construction of oil

the 75 kilometer line runs between the northern cities, linking the country with uzbekistan. it is used to transport food and supplies needed for reconstruction efforts. now officials are planning further lines. in an interview with nhk, the minister said afghanistan is planning now routes. >> translator: we aim to build links with two neighbors by the end of next year and we hope to start construction soon after. >> reporter: the asian development project is aexpected to overassist us. the head of the office, it plans to offer $240 million to help finance the project. afghanistan is rich in natural resources. its deposits of crude oil, ian ore, gold, copper and other resources are estimated to be worth nearly $1 trillion. the government has set its sights on developing mines and oil fields and exporting resources to neighboring countries by rail. but the countries aspirations go even further. it hopes to eventually extend rail links as far as pakistan and iran. but afghanistan's geographical features such as high peaks and rugged grounds are -- a chinese farm that conducted

the 75 kilometer line runs between the northern cities, linking the country with uzbekistan. it is used to transport food and supplies needed for reconstruction efforts. now officials are planning further lines. in an interview with nhk, the minister said afghanistan is planning new routes. >> translator: we aim to build links with two neighbors by the end of next year and we hope to start construction soon after. >> reporter: the asian development project is aexpected to overassist us. the head of the office, it plans to offer $240 million to help finance the project. afghanistan is rich in natural resources. its deposits of crude oil, iron ore, gold, copper and other resources are estimated to be worth nearly $1 trillion. the government has set its sights on developing mines and oil fields and exporting resources to neighboring countries by rail. but the countries aspirations go even further. it hopes to eventually extend rail links as far as pakistan and iran. but afghanistan's geographical features such as high peaks and rugged grounds are obstructions. a chinese farm tha

we've done uzbekistan, kazahkstan and the south american countries, of course, the philippines, plaitses like that -- british or american colonies and then a lot of peace corps volunteers. everybody who wants to learn english. so we send a lot of stuff for basic english. we send a bunch of very basic kids' reading books to cambodia because the u.s. military or is teaching cambodians how to read english, and they're going to be reading see spot run or the updated versions of those sorts of things. we're finding all over the world people want to learn english. >> host: so if people want to donate, what's the web site? >> guest: www dot big-books.org. >> host: and we've been talking with professor stephen franzic, "oops: observing our politicians stumble." we're at the naval academy, this is booktv on c-span2. >> tell us what you think about our programming this weekend. you can tweet us @booktv, comment on our facebook wall or send us an e-mail. booktv, nonfiction books every weekend on c-span2. booktv is on location at the u.s. naval acadny at nap lows -- annapolis, maryland. we're now jo

the crash happened near the kazakhstan/uzbekistan border. we are pale following this and are have more information late -- we're following this and will have more information later. >> reporter: welcomed sight this christmas eve. a snow cab carrying three snowshoers back to their families after two nights in the elements on mount hood. mark kelsey, mark rita estrada and debra schindler september out to white river park with plans to camp in a hut that night for margarita's birthday. instead, the trail they were following had rushed out during the summer. >> the reality with that -- and with all seriousness -- the trail doesn't exist. we had to make our trail and that's what kept us out there longer, kept us pushing harder. we were across treatment. >> reporter: cell service was spotty but they were able to call 911 and give their gps. search teams set out that day but had to turn back because of bad weather. so the trio spent the night in a makeshift schiller near a tree. members of the group remove -- were moved to tears when talking about

the russian-built military jet went down yesterday near the border with uzbekistan, killing all 27 people on board. nighttime video from the scene shows charred and mangled wreckage scattered around a cordoned off area during a raging blizzard. the commander of the country's border guards was on the plane. gregg: president obama is deciding to cut his vacation short. he is heading back from hawaii to washington tonight to work on a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff. with only days left before the automatic tax hikes and spending cuts kick in, is a compromise even possible? stephen hayes joins us. senior writer, "the weekly standard." is it possible? >> hey, gregg. yeah, look, i think it's possible. i thought all along for more than a month we were likely to see some last minute, slap dash kind of unsatisfying deal thrown to won't actually do anything to solve the long-term problems but get politicians out of the bind. gregg: like what? >> like something that extends the bush tax rates for those making $250,000 in the last, maybe amt patch, but won't deal with entitlement spending won't deal