RE: Easy on the Military Options CG,
I get the feeling that you are an older and far wiser person than I. If I had either a crystal ball and could see this working out relatively peaceably, or I had a calmer attitude toward the GOM blackmail and viewed it as more of a nuisance than a theat, I wouldn't rant so much.
The only problem is that I think these people are beyond tough -- they're sickos. They will go to any lengths to avoid the notion that someone is getting a decent deal on their precious soil. This has gone way beyond financial considerations, there's alot of emotion involved. They have turned OT into the single issue defning what sort of nation they will be going forward -- and they have the most outrageous delusions of grandeur. Thats what comes of having all the governments and businesses around the world kissing their [ ] for 10 years.
I am no genius, but this scenario has been unfolding really badly as I thought it would for quite a few months and there is still too much optimism reflected on this and other message boards that "they will reach a deal because both sides need each other". I don't think the Mongolians see it that way -- they actually have the nerve to accuse RIO of causing the problems by breaking their rules (see recent press artilces --and some comment by an idiot at Woodmont Investments). RULES? The Mongolians? Those rules are more like tanks and RPGs by other means. They are fighting a war the only way they can, and their tactics are despicable to put it mildly.
Don't know . . . just shaking my head at this point