I see VZ's situation ow, as being very different from the 'past several years'

Through those years, Chavez was not in debt, had huge reserves, had 'private' companies doing a good job of production, had mining laws in shambles, and Chavez was not really interested in gold mining.

Fast forward to now..........MANY NATIONALIZATIONS, NOT PAID FOR.....WORLD ECONOMIC DISASTER.....BIG DEBT.....NO CASH RESERVES......POOR PRODUCTION ON MANY LEVELS........GOVERNMENT CLOSE TO PASSING NEW MINING LAWS......CHAVEZ NOW VERY INTERESTED IN MINING GOLD.....BRISAS NOW IN GOV. HANDS........IN DEBT TO CHINA AND RUSSIA FOR 20 BILLION OR SO........CHAVEZ SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT SOME DEBT PAYMENTS WILL COME FROM GOLD PRODUCTION.

Now....do we all really think Chavez has the lattitude to sit back and wait us out?

Is it more likely that Chavez is trying desperately to find a way to have one of his 'Socialist' countries or companies step in and get LC and LB on the road to production?

Is it likely that Venezuela has fallen so far being, that high oil prices alone will not...

A. get VZ out of debt any time soon?......Arms.....Nationalizations

B. Get his Social Programs going again?

C. Pay for all the upgrades needed in the Factories etc?

D. Get VZ's gold out of the ground?

E. Pay for all the infrastructure that has been announced?

F. Keep all of his enemies at bay, indefinitely?

I could go on, but my brain hurts......Chavez can't afford to sit on his arse` for very long now, or he'll be up against a wall...literally speaking.

P