... how much cash will it take to buy 8,000 tons of gold rather quickly? Or ... is there that much in the ground in the U.S.A.?

How about $332,800,000,000 or, $333 billion plus incentives might do it. Hmmm. Add an incentive and call in some favours and, well, posession is 9/10ths of the law especially when you are the most powerful and much of it is in your territory ... and a little arm twisting ... and perhaps a threat or two? Okay say $1/2 billiion or even a $Trillion? It can all be created out of thin air and there would be great skimming for many.

Just an afterthought bubble anyway.