That issue has been around for a long time.  Let's look at it from the other side though.  There are many benefits if (and I do not expect it) a JV is imposed.  VZ has to come up with their share of the financing for the mine, their share of social projects and we would no longer pay the royalties.  Sure we still pay income taxes, but they would also pay us some money for "our" share like they did the oils that stayed.

Whatever the scenario, the value of our share would rise significantly from here and not be subject to further dilution.  Our real enemy right now is uncertainty and at the current prices everything but getting totally kicked out of the country is priced in and then some.

Just sit down and do the math like I have at different JV interests and you will see that we would benefit significantly.  Of course this is all speculation, since I don't think that VZ can afford to invest in anything -- the need every cent to spend on social programs.  They are closing 20% of their aluminum manufacturing capacity and will need to import expensive spot market aluminum to make up the difference because they said that they cannot afford to make the necessary investments to keep the two production lines open.

It's all good, just need a lot of patience here.  Hell, I held Amylin for six years, but it paid off huge.  Just looked up my brokerage slips and I paid an average of 3.50 in mid June 98, it fell to below 50 cents for a while (and I doubled up -- crazy move), but when I sold it in June 04 in the 20s I felt pretty good after all that pain.  This one will do fine in its time too.