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Do Russian Uranium Deals Threaten World Supply Security?

Lasrick writes: A recent article in the New York Times notes that the Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom and associated firms are gaining control of a growing number of uranium resources and mining operations. The article, headlined Cash Flowed to Clinton Foundation Amid Russian Uranium Deal focuses on donations to charities connected to former US President Bill Clinton and his family, made by businessmen who stood to profit from the sale of Uranium One, a Canadian company with worldwide uranium-mining interests. But a major premise of the article is that Russian uranium control threatens the security of the global uranium supply. Steve Fetter and Erich Schneider demolish the idea that Russian control of uranium stocks is a threat to global security.

102 comments

  1. Threatens security by future+assassin · · Score: 3, Insightful

    or threatens profit transfer from one company to another?

    --
    by TheSpoom (715771) Uncaring Linux user here. I have nothing to add to this but please continue. *munches popcorn*
    1. Re:Threatens security by afidel · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Exactly, just last week I was reading about a proposed Canadian mine that was vetoed by the native council, not due to environmental concerns, but because of uncertainty over environmental impact in the future because current and projected prices didn't actually support opening the mine in the near term but the company looking for approval was looking for a 50 year lease on the land. If Russia ties up a lot of the world supply and shuts down mines they own then the price will rise and mines like that one will come online, it's not like they're going to take over so much of the world supply that we'll be shutting down reactors due to lack of fuel. The real fear I'm sure is that Westinghouse and GE and their suppliers will have to pay more for yellowcake in order to produce their overpriced fuel rods.

      --
      There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
    2. Re:Threatens security by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      mines like that one will come online

      Paid for by investors like the ones who lost their shirts on Molycorp when China locked down rare earth element supplies, waited for competitors like Molycorp to open up mines and then said "lol nevermind, cheap metal for everyone!".

      There might be a sucker or two left who thinks this time will be different.

    3. Re:Threatens security by Xest · · Score: 1, Informative

      Yeah it's nonsense, unlike oil, the vast majority of the world's Uranium deposits sit on Western/Western allied soil. There's no energy security threat to the West when it comes to Uranium because we have access to the vast majority of it. Australia and Canada alone hold 40% of the world's reserves.

    4. Re:Threatens security by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 1

      If Russia ties up a lot of the world supply and shuts down mines they own then the price will rise and mines like that one will come online, it's not like they're going to take over so much of the world supply that we'll be shutting down reactors due to lack of fuel.

      I hardly think that's really the point. Being a "strategic material" -- and it very definitely is -- there is a real issue with selling shares of US uranium production on the open market to the Russians.

      While we aren't exactly in a "cold war" anymore, our relations in many ways are less than friendly, and the Russian deal with others who are even less friendly to the U.S. So doing that is just plain stupid.

      It's like selling ammunition to a third party who you just know is going to then turn around and sell it to your enemies.

    5. Re:Threatens security by rtb61 · · Score: 2

      More mind boggling stupid and immature US Government corporate propaganda it's like http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E... doesn't even exist in the Australia, Canada and the USA. The other countries with lots of Uranium. OHHH KNOWSSS some evil corporation owns our minerals and we can do nothing to stop them. When it is a US corporation that owns them, everyone knows that is a problem because when countries do eminent domain against US corporations, the US government stages coups and kills shit loads of people, at the behest of those US corporations. In every other case it's, we want it, we think it is worth this amount, here's the money, piss off, it's ours again. Of course the pressure is mounting against a corrupt US government and they are slowly but surely being forced to comply to those rules in other countries as the world unites against the rapacious activities of a corporate controlled US government.

      The most dangerous thing you can do if you have lots of primary resources is to allow a US military base in your country, they will never ever be there for your benefit and will remain a constant threat.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    6. Re:Threatens security by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 1

      While this mostly seems like incoherent ranting -- pardon me if I am mistaken -- I was making a very simple point:

      Let's say you, Sam, own a large farm. And somewhere on that farm, coincidentally, is a large deposit of naturally-occurring "Roundup". As long as it stays where it is, everything is fine. But if it got into your fields, your crops would mostly die.

      You have several neighbors, many of whom are basically friendly to you. You also have one neighbor who also has fields, who directly competes with you. His name is Russel.

      You and Russel both know that using Roundup on each other could kill each other's crops. So you have a mutual agreement to never use Roundup... but just in case the other guy does, you build up a pretty big reserve to use in retaliation. Just in case.

      That pretty much describes the "cold war". And it wasn't irrational. It was stressful but it did work.

      Now along comes some insane manager of your farm, who decides Russel isn't so bad after all. You, the owner (The People) know better, but that's the line your "manager" (President) is selling you.

      Question: even though you are not actively in conflict, do you sell shares in your Roundup mine to Russel? Especially when you know he will in turn sell it to other neighbors who are even less friendly?

      It would be IRRATIONAL to do so. It would be BETRAYING your farm and your family.

      But that's just exactly what the Clinton Foundation helped do.

      It's not fucking rocket science. Nor is it paranoia.

    7. Re:Threatens security by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      Again total crock of shit. Australian Uranium export laws http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.... Not only is mining totally and strictly regulated (no matter who the hell owns the mine, they can not even stick a shovel into the ground until approval is gained from local, state and federal government), it can only be sold to countries the Australian government has specific agreements with and is restricted to energy use only http://www.world-nuclear.org/i.... It is the US government that is seeking to directly control the mining and export of 'AUSTRALIAN' Uranium because 31% of worlds resource and Australia already exports Uranium to China and the US. There are a whole bunch of Uranium resources yet to be touched.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
    8. Re:Threatens security by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 1

      Again total crock of shit. Australian Uranium export laws http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.... Not only is mining totally and strictly regulated (no matter who the hell owns the mine, they can not even stick a shovel into the ground until approval is gained from local, state and federal government), it can only be sold to countries the Australian government has specific agreements with and is restricted to energy use only http://www.world-nuclear.org/i....

      100% irrelevant to the topic I was discussing, which was ownership of U.S. uranium interests by Russia. Not only is Australia a completely different continent, its politics are also completely different. Similar in some ways, but definitely not the same.

      It is the US government that is seeking to directly control the mining and export of 'AUSTRALIAN' Uranium because 31% of worlds resource and Australia already exports Uranium to China and the US. There are a whole bunch of Uranium resources yet to be touched.

      Again, completely irrelevant to the topic under discussion. If I lived in Australia, I'd object to sales to China OR the U.S.... but especially China.

    9. Re:Threatens security by rtb61 · · Score: 1

      Numbnut, you can not control the world supply of Uranium by ignoring 31% of it, like duhh.

      --
      Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
  2. Ask Hillary, she knows what happened by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative
    http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04...

    Hillary Clinton was bribed to grease the sale of 20% of America’s uranium production to Russia, and then it was covered up by lying about a meeting at her home with the principals, and by erasing emails. We might know for sure whether there was or was not bribery, if she hadn’t wiped out thousands of emails.

    1. Re:Ask Hillary, she knows what happened by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Informative

      Nonsense. There is absolutely no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of Hilary or Bill Clinton.

      Of course there isn't. They were wiped from her personal server. We know she would never delete incriminating evidence.. she's an honest democrat!

    2. Re:Ask Hillary, she knows what happened by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Insightful

      She broke no laws, violated no ethics,

      She ran a private email server, against government rules. Illegal.
      She deleted emails AFTER they were subpoenaed by Congress. Illegal.
      She sent secret intelligence documents to Sidney Blumenthall, who is not a government employee and doesn't have clearance. Illegal.
      She told Congress she had 1 private emails account, NYT found a second one, making her a liar to Congress. Illegal.
      She took bribes according to one of my sources and it is up to her to prove differently by releasing her deleted emails (see Harry Reid's false accusation against Romney for not paying tax to understand the sarcasm). Illegal

      We can go on all day, but you repeated false talking points just makes the left seem even more desperate than ever. You SHOULD be throwing her under the bus and quickly getting a different nominee. But if you don't want to, thats fine, give the GOP the White House without having to even try. Hint: Its not the GOP attacking Clinton its people who want Elizabeth Warren to run, but will only run after Clinton drops out.

    3. Re:Ask Hillary, she knows what happened by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      > lying about a meeting

      You don't know that. Just because she said one thing and did another doesn't make that a lie. It could be that the facts changed. Of course you Republicans are so full of hate that you stop thinking logically.

    4. Re:Ask Hillary, she knows what happened by The+Grim+Reefer · · Score: 2

      Just because she said one thing and did another doesn't make that a lie. It could be that the facts changed.

      That's a good one. It didn't work out so well for George W. Bush when the facts changed.

      Of course you Republicans are so full of hate that you stop thinking logically.

      Democrats, Republicans, you're all so full of hatred for each other you're not only illogical, you're blind and stupid too.

      I'm old enough to remember when universal healthcare was a Republican goal. The Democrats claimed it would be the end of America. Funny how the roles have reversed.

      Of course that's the beauty of the internet. It's been around long enough that you can find videos of just about any politician whose been in office long enough vehemently claiming the exact opposite of what they so strongly state they believe now. But you just keep blindly believing whatever your "team" in the blue or red uniforms keeps telling you to think. It's easier that way I suppose.

    5. Re:Ask Hillary, she knows what happened by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      I'm on board with your first couple of bullets, but I don't think it's up to Hillary to rebuff random "sources" that haven't presented any evidence. Politicians would be doing nothing else if they had to address every crackpot theory about them (including the true ones) that don't have more than circumstantial evidence.

  3. Political hit job by benjfowler · · Score: 0, Troll

    Smells like somebody's trying to Swiftboat the Clintons. I wonder who bankrolled this, and who stands to benefit?

    1. Re:Political hit job by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

      America stands to benefit

    2. Re:Political hit job by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Smells like somebody's trying to Swiftboat the Clintons.

      The Clintons are giving the swiftboaters plenty of ammunition. This certainly has the appearance of a sleazy deal. Mostly this sort of stuff just makes the people that hate Hillary, hate her even more, while having no effect on the people that like her. But eventually all these reports are going to have an effect on swing voters.

    3. Re:Political hit job by TWX · · Score: 2

      Smells like somebody's trying to Swiftboat the Clintons. I wonder who bankrolled this, and who stands to benefit?

      And I wonder what this relatively obscure business market, that's not really centered around new technology or technology that the average person could have a chance in hell of playing with, has to do with a site that focuses on nerdy or geeky things.

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    4. Re:Political hit job by garyisabusyguy · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      Sure, the Clintons should just slink off into anonymity and let the Bush family take over the US, because the gop is saying mean things about them

      Right

      I would be surprised of a day passes between now and the election when the gop does not come up with another cockamamie claim against he Clintons. it is kinda like a obsession for them

      --
      Wherever You Go, There You Are
    5. Re:Political hit job by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Nothing sticks to the Clintons.

    6. Re:Political hit job by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Conjecture is ammunition to the intellectually lazy....or in most cases...the stupid.

    7. Re:Political hit job by DocHoncho · · Score: 2

      Sure, the Clintons should just slink off into anonymity and let the Bush family take over the US, because the gop is saying mean things about them

      You say that as if Hillary is the only possible Democratic candidate who could beat Jeb Bush. If anything, she's got less of a chance than some other candidate with less baggage and skeletons in the closet.

      It's only mid-2016 and I'm already sick of this idea that Hillary is the inevitable candidate, let alone a shoe in for victory.

      --
      Celebrity worship is a poor substitute for Deity worship and costs more to boot.
    8. Re: Political hit job by WindBourne · · Score: 1

      I would mod you up, but I have no points.

      --
      I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
    9. Re:Political hit job by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Exactly. Despite being involved with at least forty scandals that I can remember off of the top of my head, nothing has ever stuck. That's because she is innocent. That is the only logical explanation. Of course since Republicans hate logic and live by emotion and their xian religion, they hate her. That is why they want her to die like the rest of us. It is their illogic that leads them to believe that where there is smoke there is fire. That is not logical.

    10. Re:Political hit job by flopsquad · · Score: 1

      Ah but it's so clear! Dice fabricated this story in an intricate plot to get people to come to their news aggregation site Slashdot to post lots and lots of comments arguing politics.

      They were counting on an extra boost from the people who come in to say "Hey that's not news for nerds!"

      But the final thing that put them over the edge, earning them a coveted 6.2 Internets/$^2, was this very post unmasking their evil plot. By exposing the depth of their depravity, I have made them more powerful than I could ever imagine.

      --
      Nothing posted to /. has ever been legal advice, including this.
    11. Re:Political hit job by Bob+the+Super+Hamste · · Score: 0

      Well the best thing for the Democrats would be to dump Hillary and get someone anyone else. I keep hearing Elizabeth Warren's name being bandied about as someone who would be a good choice, and Bernie Sanders has already thrown his name in the hat. From what I know about either of these candidates they would at least provide a stark bold contrast to the Republicans. Similar things could be said about the Republicans and one of the worst choices for them would be nominating Jeb. Personally on the republican side someone like Rand Paul, or Scott Walker would probably offer the same stark bold contrast to the Democrats . In a Warren V. Paul or Sanders V. Walker race the people would actually be offered some real choices and then the only question is how much will the winner change once in office.

      --
      Time to offend someone
    12. Re:Political hit job by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      Conjecture is ammunition to the intellectually lazy....or in most cases...the stupid.

      You really must be new here.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    13. Re:Political hit job by Bob+the+Super+Hamste · · Score: 1

      I guess I hit a nerve with someone and their candidate du-jour.

      --
      Time to offend someone
  4. Clinton! Booga! by Enry · · Score: 2, Funny

    The article, headlined Cash Flowed to Clinton Foundation Amid Russian Uranium Deal

    Is completely wrong if it's implying that Sec. Clinton was the only person involved in approving the deal. She didn't have veto authority (only the president does) and she was part of a panel of 8 other members who also approved the deal. If she were the only person to approve or she was the deciding factor, the accusation might have merit and more examination done. She wasn't directly involved in the deal, there's no indication that she was a deciding factor, and there's little indication that she personally profits from money donated to the Clinton Foundation. There might be questions about the sources of money for the CF, but to imply that there's some sort of quid pro quo going on is just baseless.

    http://www.factcheck.org/2015/...

  5. Yes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Yes. Essentially Hillary sold the US Uranium supply to Vladimir Putin, who will turn around and sell Uraniumhexafloride to the mullahs in Iran. Someday, we'll get it all back when they plant One in New York Harbor. All so the Clinton Crime Family can hobnob in the Hamptons for the rest of their crooked lives.

    1. Re:Yes by PPH · · Score: 1

      US Uranium supply

      So, why did we sell this off to a Canadian company in the first place?

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
    2. Re:Yes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Perhaps Canada is considered less of a national security risk than Canada, who indeed does command Norad periodically. Just a thought.

  6. Betteridge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    No.

  7. Uranium One by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    As a former shareholder, I can tell you that initially, Russian state (Rosatom) bought 50% of the company and they gave every shareholder a nice dividend. I think it was something like $1.06/share dividend, which was about a year after 2008 crash. That was a very nice deal and Rosatom said they had NO INTENTION of taking over. Uranium One said it was beneficial transaction to "smooth things out" in Kazakhstan, where coincidentally Cameco had problems.. Smells like politics interfering with business, but well... so be it.

    Share value went up and at one time it was $7. The Fukushima happened and everything uranium crashed, including Uranium One. Few years later, Rosatom announced they will take over the rest. And now they own everything. In the meantime, there were some "funny loans", like bonds taken out in Rubles, funny option dealings with Uranium prices, but I didn't look closely.

    I think this allowed Russians to take over Kazakhstan's uranium again. That was where majority of Uranium One holdings were.

  8. Cue the Hillary shills by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    3....2....1

  9. There's plenty of Uranium in Brazil by Flavianoep · · Score: 2

    There's threat of monopoly of Uranium ore to be afraid of.

    --
    Linux is for people who don't mind RTFM.
  10. How is this news for nerds? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    This is more like FUD for people who care about political jabs.

    1. Re:How is this news for nerds? by camg188 · · Score: 1

      This is an important issue for people who care about transparency and influence peddling in government.
      If only she hadn't used her own private email server then deleted all those emails, then she would have a mountain of evidence to show how innocent she is. Right?

  11. Re:Clinton! Booga! by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 1

    Is completely wrong if it's implying that Sec. Clinton was the only person involved in approving the deal.

    The article did not say that. It just said (correctly) that she had influence over the decision.

  12. Re:Clinton! Booga! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Spreading out blame is always a great way of getting out of trouble.

  13. Plenty of other options. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Good, maybe this will encourage development of a thorium-based power industry, or reprocessing of spent reactor fuel (which other countries do, but in the US is prohibited by law. Thank you Jimmy Carter.)

    Anyway Australia has almost a third of the world's uranium reserves, so unless Russia is moving in there too we probably don't have much to worry about.

  14. Government is guilty until proven innocent by mi · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Is completely wrong if it's implying that Sec. Clinton was the only person involved in approving the deal.

    "Completely" wrong? No, it is quite right to suspect her. With government officials the famous legal standard is — or ought to be — backwards: guilty until proven innocent. With the amount of sheer power and influence the Executive government has, they must be constantly under scrutiny, and any time there is a suspicion, then must be presumed guilty. These cases are all the same:

    • Policeman shoots a citizen
    • A citizen dies in police custody
    • A government agency "loses" e-mails
    • A government official uses personal e-mail server to discuss financial contributions

    We, the people, do not — or should not — have to prove their guilt, they must be proving innocence instead. And until they do, they must be deemed guilty of the worst crime reasonably suspected. For example: could the shooting have been malicious, or the could "lost" e-mails have contained evidence of rape or treason? If yes, than the charges of murder, rape, and treason ought to stand against all involved until innocence is proven.

    She didn't have veto authority (only the president does) and she was part of a panel of 8 other members who also approved the deal.

    Nonsense. She was the most influential person on that panel and among the 10 most influential members of the government. Her approval or lack thereof was, in all likelihood, the deciding factor.

    there's little indication that she personally profits from money donated to the Clinton Foundation

    Except the foundation is a slush fund . In 2013, for example, it took in $140mln, but spent only $9 mln on actual charity:

    On its 2013 tax forms, the most recent available, the foundation claimed it spent $30 million on payroll and employee benefits; $8.7 million in rent and office expenses; $9.2 million on “conferences, conventions and meetings”; $8 million on fundraising; and nearly $8.5 million on travel. None of the Clintons is on the payroll, but they do enjoy first-class flights paid for by the foundation.

    It does not need to be a source of direct financial enrichment — it is perfectly fine as a vehicle for power.

    --
    In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    1. Re:Government is guilty until proven innocent by Enry · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Nonsense. She was the most influential person on that panel and among the 10 most influential members of the government. Her approval or lack thereof was, in all likelihood, the deciding factor.

      You realize that she wasn't the person that voted and the person who did represent the State Department had no contact with her about it, yes? And the other departments that are represented in the vote include DHS, Defense, and Energy? If any one of them had qualms about it, I'm certain they would have brought it up (especially DHS and Defense) and recommended a veto.

      The rest of what you put down is an incoherent rant that really doesn't have much to do with the issue at hand.

    2. Re:Government is guilty until proven innocent by garyisabusyguy · · Score: 2

      It does not need to be an actual indiscretion — it is perfectly fine to use innuendo as a vehicle for gop propaganda

      FTFY

      --
      Wherever You Go, There You Are
    3. Re:Government is guilty until proven innocent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Nonsense. She was the most influential person on that panel and among the 10 most influential members of the government. Her approval or lack thereof was, in all likelihood, the deciding factor.

      You realize that she wasn't the person that voted and the person who did represent the State Department had no contact with her about it, yes?

      We know that because Clinton has no emails on record from her personal server from that time.

    4. Re:Government is guilty until proven innocent by bouldin · · Score: 1

      The rest of what you put down is an incoherent rant that really doesn't have much to do with the issue at hand.

      You have to understand, he really hates Hillary Clinton, regardless of facts.

      Oh, and government, he really hates all government. And black people. Just be glad the topic isn't black people, black people in government, or government helping poor black people.

    5. Re:Government is guilty until proven innocent by Enry · · Score: 1

      Yeah, I kinda gathered that.

    6. Re:Government is guilty until proven innocent by mi · · Score: 1

      the person who did represent the State Department had no contact with her about it

      And you know this from?..

      If any one of them had qualms about it [...]

      And, maybe, they did... But seeing Clinton being in favor decided not to rock the boat and alienate the probably next President...

      The rest of what you put down is an incoherent rant that really doesn't have much to do with the issue at hand.

      A rather backwards way of conceding a point, but I'll take it. It must've been hard for you as it is.

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    7. Re:Government is guilty until proven innocent by Enry · · Score: 1

      And you know this from?..

      From the article I linked to. Did you bother reading it?

      And, maybe, they did... But seeing Clinton being in favor decided not to rock the boat and alienate the probably next President...

      Yes. That's exactly what they did. *eyeroll*

      A rather backwards way of conceding a point, but I'll take it. It must've been hard for you as it is.

      Yeah, no. This is about the vote to give a Russian country control of 20% of US uranium production and Sec. Clinton's (non)involvement in it. If you want to spittle on about other things, find someone else who is interested.

    8. Re:Government is guilty until proven innocent by mi · · Score: 1

      From the article I linked to. Did you bother reading it?

      Yeah, their only source for this particular claim is the guy's own words: "He told the Times: “Mrs. Clinton never intervened with me on any C.F.I.U.S. matter.”

      That's both flimsy evidence (hearsay and not under oath) and evasive. For example, if he is ever confronted with evidence of having been told by Clinton, how to vote, he'll be able to claim, that it was not "interference", but direct instructions from his official boss at the time.

      And yet, you took his flimsy statement about lack of "interference" and turned it into a far wider-reaching "had no contact with her about it". Am I being picky? The other Clinton once claimed, "oral sex is not sex", for crying out loud — you can not be too picky with these weasels...

      Yes. That's exactly what they did. *eyeroll*

      Eye-rolling does not prove anything. I'll take it as another concession.

      Yeah, no. This is about the vote to give a Russian country control of 20% of US uranium production and Sec. Clinton's (non)involvement in it.

      You defended the Secretary here with two arguments:

      1. That a FactCheck-article concludes, there is no evidence of her wrong-doing — only "speculations"
      2. That any money (bribe) were given not to any of the Clintons, but to the Clinton Foundation

      The first claim makes my "rant" — about the need to use a reverse of the usual burden-of-proof principle for Executive government officials — on-topic and otherwise appropriate. The second (false) claim likewise legitimizes my counter-argument about the Foundation being a slush-fund and a power-brokerage vehicle, even if it does not enrich the Clintons directly.

      Legitimacy of my counter-arguments now established, absence of any other rebuttals from you evident, the only conclusion is that your original arguments in defense of Madame Secretary are null and void. Have a nice day.

      --
      In Soviet Washington the swamp drains you.
    9. Re:Government is guilty until proven innocent by bouldin · · Score: 1

      LOL, this is like watching a parade of delusion.

      Are you sure you aren't APK?

    10. Re:Government is guilty until proven innocent by Enry · · Score: 1

      The first claim makes my "rant" — about the need to use a reverse of the usual burden-of-proof principle for Executive government officials — on-topic and otherwise appropriate.

      Trying to prove a negative? And you're wondering why I'm rolling my eyes at you?

    11. Re:Government is guilty until proven innocent by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      The rest of what you put down is an incoherent rant that really doesn't have much to do with the issue at hand.

      You have to understand, he really hates Hillary Clinton, regardless of facts.

      Oh, and government, he really hates all government. And black people. Just be glad the topic isn't black people, black people in government, or government helping poor black people.

      I'm guessing he's not a big Obama fan then?

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    12. Re:Government is guilty until proven innocent by tehcyder · · Score: 1

      LOL, this is like watching a parade of delusion.

      Are you sure you aren't APK?

      What, with not a single refernce to HOSTS files? Unlikely.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
    13. Re:Government is guilty until proven innocent by bouldin · · Score: 1

      I'm guessing he's not a big Obama fan then?

      Yeah, he has an anti-Obama troll in his sig.

      His backup sig is:

      What I know about Obama, peace be upon him, is that I had a job, when Bush was President.

      This is especially ironic to me, because I was laid off around the end of Bush's term (you know, in the Great Recession), and now I'm making 40% more than before I was laid off.

      I've never actually seen anybody claim the economy was better under Bush. This clown must live in a different world where things like facts and reality don't matter. But, it's entertaining!

    14. Re:Government is guilty until proven innocent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Learn to stfu seeing how apk snapped you in half today http://it.slashdot.org/comment...

    15. Re:Government is guilty until proven innocent by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      We understand APK splattered you all over slashdot http://it.slashdot.org/comment...

  15. *Bullspittle* by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    You are completely full of crap! There is a pretty decent sized book that just came out which lays out the timelines for deals and income to not just their foundation, but cash to Bill. The Washing Post had a nicely done article on this same subject, in particular laying out the Uranium mining issues. Hillary didn't need Veto power as you are falsely portraying, she needed political power to push through things she was paid to push through. The timelines show very clearly that is exactly what happened.

    Consider the Cop getting paid off by the drug dealer to look the other way. Given your current position you must also believe that as long as there is a middle man and not direct contact between the drug dealer and the cop it's all fine and dandy.

    Please never vote again!

    1. Re:*Bullspittle* by garyisabusyguy · · Score: 2

      OMG, somebody wrote a book so it must be true!

      --
      Wherever You Go, There You Are
    2. Re:*Bullspittle* by camg188 · · Score: 2

      It must be a vast right wing conspiracy...
      but then there's the Washington Post story.

    3. Re:*Bullspittle* by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The person you responded to is the usual idiot who is so far into their delusion they can't see the real world. Their candidate promised them X which is brand new and won't cost a penny! Most importantly, their candidate never lies! *sigh* There is far more than just those two items tracking the Clinton crap. The author of that book released it to every major News agency in the US a month prior to release to the public. So far there have been 2 national articles on the subject by other investigative journalists. What did the rest of media do? Ignore it, give the false impression that she was releasing her emails (instead of the fragment she turned in after scrubbing her servers), and pretend nothing ever happened.

      The game is fixed and people like garyisabusyguy are happily retarded, which makes fixing the game pretty damn easy for the people holding power.

      Anyone talking bad about their candidate has to be that way because they are on the other team, not because their candidate is a person who has a history of abusing their office, history of narcissism, and decades of psychopathic behavior.

      Thanks for listening to my rant.

    4. Re:*Bullspittle* by garyisabusyguy · · Score: 1

      Like wow, you totally got me figured out

      Woe is me, I just got skewered by the smartest bravest AC on the planet

      Funny thing is that shit costs money, and pumping and dumping the entire economy costs a lot of money to dig out of. It did after the Great Depression and it did after the Great Recession. The similarities do not stop there, particularly since both happened on the watch of ineffective, pro-business, anti-regulation republican administrations and both got rectified by effective Dem administrations that understand the value of stimulus and the role that government plays in regulating markets

      Of course the rich-ass bastards know that they will be on the hook for the tax bill, just like they were from the Great Depression through to the election of Pres Reagan (the Saint of the uber wealthy), and they are using unlimited amounts of propaganda to attempt to convince people that taxing them is a baaaad thing

      Go cry to your wealthy sponsor because your rant rings as hollow as anything that Dennis miller has spewed in the last 15 years

      --
      Wherever You Go, There You Are
    5. Re:*Bullspittle* by tehcyder · · Score: 1
      Maybe the author of this book could present their evidence to the relevant authorities and they could use it to prosecute Clinton?

      Just a thought.

      --
      To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
  16. Re:Clinton! Booga! by Enry · · Score: 1

    Very limited influence given it wasn't her that actually voted and the person who was the State Department representative said he was never contacted by her about it.

  17. The issue is less that and more about corruption by Karmashock · · Score: 2

    The thing is that the state department had to okay the deal and the Clintons... and several of their associates directly profited.

    If Hillary weren't the primary Democrat hope for the next presidential election, she might already have been charged with a crime.

    The State Department is trying to delay the release of her emails until AFTER the election.

    It is extremely political. Hopefully the democrats can find someone less compromised to run for office so they don't feel the need to protect Hillary at all costs.

    Were it not for that... again, she'd already be facing charges. But the administration is rallying behind her, the State Department is refusing to release information, the Justice Department is refusing to prosecute, and as usual congress is deadlocked with both major parties gripping the other by the throat and squeezing.

    In the end, it is quite likely that hillary is going to collapse. She's a little too much like Al Gore and not enough like Slick Willy. We're already seeing the major liberal newspapers turn on her and this early in the game that is an indication that it is already over.

    She's fucked. Will she spend a day in jail? Probably not. But neither will she be president. That train has sailed.

    --
    I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.
  18. Demolished? by tomhath · · Score: 0

    Steve Fetter and Erich Schneider demolish the idea that Russian control of uranium stocks is a threat to global security.

    No, they don't demolish the idea.

    Their argument is that since demand in the past was lower than the global supply of uranium ore, there is no reason to worry that Russia and China are trying to corner the supply. That doesn't make any sense to me based on what we've seen from both countries.

  19. Re:The issue is less that and more about corruptio by Enry · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I'm gonna have to go with a [citation needed] for most of that.

    Starting with this one:

    The State Department is trying to delay the release of her emails until AFTER the election.

    No, they're trying to delay until January 2016, a full 10 months BEFORE the election, even before the primaries. If there's anything damaging in there, it'll be far worse for her and Democrats if there's something serious enough for her to quit the race since she's effectively the only person running. Getting the e-mails out now turns it into a non-story by then since they'll have already been released.

  20. Re:The issue is less that and more about corruptio by XxtraLarGe · · Score: 2

    We're already seeing the major liberal newspapers turn on her and this early in the game that is an indication that it is already over.

    That's all a ruse. Once she's received the nomination, they will all be circling the wagons around her to shield her from any scrutiny.

    --
    Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
  21. Quid pro quo by tomhath · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Someone's trying to use Hillary's "What difference does it make?" defense.

    The original story was that she influenced the sale in exchange for donations. Now the response from her defenders is "So what? We have plenty of uranium".

    Nice attempt at changing the subject; I say "What difference does it make if there's plenty of uranium ore, the deal still looks shady"

  22. "Limited" defined by SuperKendall · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Sure, if by "never contacted" you mean "given lots of money, along with other people on the panel, to vote a specific way".

    Are you really so naive? You don't even have to dislike the clintons to understand the fundamental flow of money involved here and just how easy it is for that to have an effect on the results.

    It's also stupid on the face of things to claim Clinton had no influence when donations to her charity fell drastically after she left the state dept... You don't need a tinfoil hat to pick up the subtle single there.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:"Limited" defined by Enry · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Sure, if by "never contacted" you mean "given lots of money, along with other people on the panel, to vote a specific way".

      Any evidence of that? Otherwise, you're just making up stuff. Please stick to the facts.

    2. Re:"Limited" defined by mOzone · · Score: 1

      it was the headline ::Cash Flowed to Clinton Foundation Amid Russian Uranium Deal::

        a flow of cash made its way to the Clinton Foundation. Uranium One’s chairman used his family foundation to make four donations totaling $2.35 million. Those contributions were not publicly disclosed by the Clintons,

      RTFA

  23. WTF, Slashdot?! by __aaclcg7560 · · Score: 2

    If I wanted to read something about politics, I would read at the Politico. At least the nut jobs there know how to properly insult each other without pretending to have read the article.

    1. Re:WTF, Slashdot?! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      slashdot has been running political stories for the last several day. Not a good sign.

  24. I laid out the facts, horse will not drink by SuperKendall · · Score: 0

    I did - the facts are that the Clinton foundation claims to be a charity, but uses almost none of the money collected for charity. The facts are that the foundation gained a huge boost in donations from people while Clinton was in the state department, from people/governments who had matters being decided by the state department...

    If you want to ignore the facts, fine. Just don't claim to be for them at the same time.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
    1. Re:I laid out the facts, horse will not drink by Enry · · Score: 2

      You haven't laid out anything other than a bunch of baseless accusations. You should write a book about it, I'm sure it'll sell.

    2. Re:I laid out the facts, horse will not drink by BlueStrat · · Score: 1, Funny

      You haven't laid out anything other than a bunch of baseless accusations. You should write a book about it, I'm sure it'll sell.

      Bwaahahaha!

      "I didn't do it. Nobody saw me do it. You can't prove anything"

      It's the Bart Simpson defense!

      [Beetlejuice voice] And it just keeps getting funnier *every* *single* *time* I see it! [/Beetlejuice voice]

      How about you just stick your fingers in your ears and go; "Lalalala, I can't hear you! Lalalala!".

      Too funny!

      Strat

      --
      Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.
  25. Re:The issue is less that and more about corruptio by Karmashock · · Score: 2

    ... I think they would if Hillary were a competent politician... that is someone good at politics. But she's not. She's not good at kissing babies. She's not good making people feel the love. She's not inspirational. The only reason she has any power or credibility what so ever is because of Bill Clinton and really that can only go so far. It is amazing how far she's been able to stretch that.

    The media would be doing more for her if she were holding up her end of it. But she's basically a cold fish in that relationship. She just lays there not moving at all while the media TRIES to get something happening. Not terrible stimulating. She's basically been hiding for weeks hoping that all the controversy will go away. This would work if we were all babies because Peek-a-boo is highly entertaining... if you are a toddler. It loses its appeal rapidly after that age.

    She's going to be a laughing stock if she isn't replaced. The former governor of Maryland is making a bid for the nomination and he's looking more credible by the day... and that's even taking into consideration that he's coming out of Maryland... which just suffered a nasty race riot.

    Most of the dem strategists have admitted this and have said they're quite afraid of the ultimate consequences if she gets the nomination.

    Don't get me wrong... her allies will try. But she's not giving them anything to work with.

    None of this is helped by her generally unappealing personality etc.

    She will still get the the base of the democrat party. Just as the republicans will always get the base of the republican party.

    However, whether everyone from the base shows up is questionable and how many either side can attract from the middle is debatable.

    --
    I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.
  26. If something malicious happned by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    If Hillary actually did something illegal, skirted the law or even just compromised the US' security, the Republicans would be all over her - it would be Benghazi all over again but actually justified. They made some noise about the email servers and then pretty much dropped it.

    So, I have to ask why aren't the Republicans going after her? If there is something here, she just handed them a perfect weapon to knock out the Democrats for '16. And they're not.

    so, either there's nothing, or there is something much deeper and bigger happening here that us little people aren't supposed to know about - maybe our government cutting deal with Russia to prevent something worse like a war?

    1. Re:If something malicious happned by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Or they're waiting for her to get the nomination and then bring all this stuff up to make her look worse. It's a little too early to spend all the effort it would take to sink her campaign when you don't even know if she'll be the leading candidate.

  27. Re:The issue is less that and more about corruptio by Karmashock · · Score: 1, Troll

    You're right, I misread the date. They have covered for her however in many different instances so I simply assumed that would be more of the same. Furthermore, what would actually be released is questionable. There is a lot of stall tactics and goal post moving on on with that sort of stuff. You ask for something, they delay six months, then give you something other than what you asked for... you say "where is the thing I asked for" and they say "oh you meant that other thing... that will be another six months"... rinse and repeat. In anything but a major branch of the federal government that sort of behavior would get fines leived so stiff that the political establishment would just comply out of self preservation. But the federal government doesn't really have to... I mean, what are you going to do to them? What if they just stone wall and stall?

    There is a long list of issues that she's going to have to deal with... There was the non-disclosure agreement which she was supposed to sign which she didn't... lots of misinformation around the whole Benghazi situation. The email server she kept to avoid congressional audits is a problem. That she deleted the emails prior to handing over information is a problem. That she maintained multiple email accounts which were not declared is a problem.The whole thing about her using mercenaries to do intelligence work is just bizarre. There is the whole crazy situation with the Russian uranium mine purchase. There is the stuff with her brother getting some interest in a Haitian gold mine for no apparent reason. There is the seeming quid pro quo between her state department doing something nice for foreign interests and then Bill getting a speaking gig for hundreds of thousands of dollars. Etc.

    There's a long list of stuff. You can't blow it all off with credibility.

    --
    I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.
  28. Ah, good play by argStyopa · · Score: 2

    Make sure the discussion is about whether this is dangerous to the world uranium supply (it isn't), and not about the president/presidential candidate team that took $millions$ from one of the USs main geopolitical opponents to secure said deal.

    90% of magic is making sure the audience is looking where you want them to be looking.

    --
    -Styopa
  29. Re:The issue is less that and more about corruptio by XxtraLarGe · · Score: 1, Insightful

    The only reason she has any power or credibility what so ever is because of Feminists.

    FTFY.

    --
    Taking guns away from the 99% gives the 1% 100% of the power.
  30. never trust the Russians by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    ever!

  31. Ha! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Don't use a Democrat talking-point site to refute a claim about a Democrat.

    Sometimes, getting a government official to NOT say "no" and to not voice any objections or criticisms is a very-effective way to grease-the-skids for a bad action - AND it has the happy side-effect of being less obvious to the simple-minded.

    Simple question: if the EXACT same thing happened BUT the name "Hillary Clinton" were replaced with "Dick Cheney" would you still say "no big deal"?

    hmmmmmmmmm

  32. relax; we do not need any more uranium by WindBourne · · Score: 1

    Look up transatomic, thorium , and spent fuel. These will be built sooner, not later. When it does, all of the thorium above ground combined with our waste could power america for the next 100 years.

    --
    I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
  33. DOH by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Do you have any knowledge of US security matters?

    NORAD is the "NORth American air Defense" org because it covers and includes Canada. The over-the-north-pole ICBM detection radars are in Canada, and Canadian officers are involved in the operation of NORAD (including working in "the mountain" back when it was active.

    With a military alliance THAT tight and total military-to-military trust probably only approximated by the relationship with the UK (who currently are borrowing some US personnel to fill some crew positions in their navy that were not filled by Brits) there was no reason for Canadian control of such mines to ring any alarm bells

    1. Re:DOH by PPH · · Score: 1

      there was no reason for Canadian control of such mines to ring any alarm bells

      So, why wasn't our sale of US uranium mines toi Canada made with restrictions on resale or the right of a veto?

      Asked and answered: Money. Canada would likely have offered less in a deal with restrictions. We knew it and didn't ask for any, figuring we could stamp our feet and whine later on.

      --
      Have gnu, will travel.
  34. The Clinton internet machine strikes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    From now until Nov 2016, every less-than-glowing story about the Clintons will be attacked by the vast left-wing internet machine. There will be Facebook attacks, Google mis-directs, factcheck.org deceits, etc (all the manipulative stuff the left BRAGS about AFTER each election cycle when they celebrate their superior internet activity). The facts will not matter (as-in all the Clinton scandals of the 90's that were all "conspiracy theories" INCLUDING the Lewinski matter - until the blue dress surfaced)

    First, they'll insist there is "no evidence". This is handy defense when you have destroyed evidence, but do not want to be caught denying the actual accusation in case some evidence you missed eventually surfaced.

    Then, they'll tell the press, approx 90% of whom self-identify as Democrats, not to report on it and that their "access" and careers will be over if they report on it
    (watch the documentary on the Clinton elections that includes Stephanopolis making this exact attack back then)

    Then, if more stuff surfaces, they will say "it's old news" as a substitute for offering any answers. As an alternative, they will say "we've already answered those questions" (with the previous "answers" being either "no comment" or "it's all a vast right-wing conspiracy")

    People have forgotten that moveon was founded by Clinonistas who wanted the country to "move on" from asking any questions about Bill Clinton's womanizing. These supposed feminists, who usually scream that any male-female activity that involves a power inbalance (like a CEO and an intern) is by-definition "harrassment" because "the woman is in a less-powerful position and cannot say no" suddenly demanded that a President (arguably the most-powerful man on the PLANET) and his intern is FINE and we were not supposed to notice that the man's own secretary said he assaulted her too and one of his other supporters and fundraisers claimed he raped her.

    Move on, indeed... just another part of the actual-NAZI-collaborator-funded (google George Soros and watch the videos of him being proud of his NAZI collaboration) machine of the left.

  35. Poor Canada by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They have to sell off everything so they can buy a couple of our F-35s. If they can't raise the money, they might have to pull the CF-105 plans off the shelf and build their own planes.

  36. I call bullshit by gordguide · · Score: 1

    There is plenty of Uranium to go around; the current operating mines in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada can supply all Western needs for any foreseeable future needs. Proven reserves in the area are massive ... new mines take a decade or more to be approved and operating, but if needed there is so much available known deposits in the Athabaska Sand Basin in SK that supply is clearly not the issue. The Russians also have their own needs well met. Uranium spot prices are lower than in the past due to current market oversupply vs demand, although it's important to note that supply is almost always based on long-term contracts of 25 years or more ... power utilities contract for the expected life of the reactor at a fixed price. Now, if you want to talk the Chinese cornering the market for Rare Earth Minerals, well, maybe there is a story ...

  37. Re:The issue is less that and more about corruptio by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    They say Jan 2016 now. We'll see how it goes. This also gives them plenty of time to REDACT what they don't want to release and make it look good. Kind of like certain sets of missing tapes over the past couple of years...

  38. Re:The issue is less that and more about corruptio by tehcyder · · Score: 1

    The only reason she has any power or credibility what so ever is because of Feminists.

    FTFY.

    Because everything that is wrong in the world is because of Feminists . Especially Feminism . Or, as me and my friends like to say Feminazism . Geddit? See they're like feminists and nazis together, which is bad, because socialism.

    --
    To have a right to do a thing is not at all the same as to be right in doing it
  39. No delusion I kicked your ASS today weasel by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What this? Oh gosh, say it ain't so http://it.slashdot.org/comment...

    * :)

    (Talking behind my back too YOU LITTLE FUCK? Serves you right... you did yourself in bitch, see above!)

    APK

    P.S.=> You little done nothing KNOW nothing little reprehensible talking behind MY BACK like the bitch woman you are, you little scumbag shit, NOW? I am LAUGHING @ YOUR STUPID ASS & so is anyone else... apk

  40. yellow cake is tasty! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    the US southwest has ample supplies of Uranium for any purposes the US (Grants, NM once had 2 active mines which were shut down when the US decided it had a large enough stockpile of Ur ore)has but it doesn't hurt to not have a former world power run by an egomaniac who doesn't mind re-invading countries it took over after WWII when he fells the need to control large amt of the global supply.

  41. Re:The issue is less that and more about corruptio by toddestan · · Score: 1

    That's all a ruse. Once she's received the nomination, they will all be circling the wagons around her to shield her from any scrutiny.

    That's the problem. She's currently the Democratic front runner, and it seems that the Republicans (once again) seem intent on nominating some one who is completely unelectable. In a sane universe, Hilary should be unelectable too. The only option is to vote third party.

  42. Re:The issue is less that and more about corruptio by Karmashock · · Score: 1

    Hmmm... they help for sure, but feminists are not enough. Bill does more for her than the feminists do. The feminists for example would be happier with some feminist professor getting crowned queen of the universe. But they're settling for the wife of an ex president.

    Furthermore feminists of any politically active kind make up a very small portion of the total voting block. They couldn't get anyone elected without allying with a larger political coalition that would ultimately dwarf their interests.

    --
    I've decided to stop wasting my time responding to AC trolls/sockpuppets... so if you want a response from me... login.