OF - Agreed China is the best chance to move forward but why wait to put the best plan for arbitration off until forced to go that way, it's just good business to have an alternative ready. If Chavez is going to continue to stall this deal, I cannot see how we can be more accomidating in already having given him a Chinese majority partner as a solution to this. Maybe the original timelines were too optimistic but we are being played now (again), best to activly and openly find financing partners asap.

I cannot beleve the SP during the POG increase and reignited talk of inflation in food and commodities. I am wondering if anyone has an opinion on our drop yesterday and into today was caused by the no news and cancellation of the alo pres on Sunday?

sitting on pins and needles for too long. HB