Obviously the Venezuelan government is totally helpless when it comes to business. When they nationalize something that is already in place (developed by the private sector) it subsequently suffers from underinvestment and production declines. Forget about building an industrial enterprise from scratch. They are not capable. It seems they have a dilemma if their goal is to "nationalize" mines that have not yet been constructed. KRYs MOA is a workable model....but only up to the point that the arrangement is still profitable. I'm starting to really wonder if Ortega's environmental rant wasn't done at the behest of Hugo himself. How else could Hugo put the kabosh on KRY and GRZ if that is his goal? The average voting man in the street (aside from the locals way up in Km 88) has no idea (nor does he care) about the details of KRY with respect to the law, approvals, jobs and the environment. Could Hugo secure more votes on a national level by "protecting the environment" or by allowing KRY to go forward? BTW...rest assured that Hugo is well aware of what a plum of a mine Las Cristinas is. Also rest assured that the Russians would $love$ to get their hands on it (once KRY is out of the way....that may take a couple of years). Hugo is all about power. There is nothing more than he would like than to make an "under the table" deal with the Russians.....submarines and gun factories for the right to mine Las Cristinas. This pig will not go gently into the night....regardless of what the people said in the last referendum. Is the NA still on our side or has the complexion changed? I have no idea. It seems like we are not hearing too many comments in the press from the pro-KRY NA voices like Guiterrez. I believe Guiterrez himself said that basically the NA has no power to make the permit decision anyway. Hugo has all the power in this regard. One month since "Black Wednesday" and still waiting.