NOT exactly, from my view point.

The Mining Majors have been ringing up big profits over the past 3-6 years and are floating in CASH. However, they have most of that cash in many of the same banks that are teatering on the edge at present. If they, the Mining Majors, were to start snapping up the Best of the Best Juniors now, that cash would have to come out of those extremely fragile banks to pay for the Buy Outs or Partnerships, what ever. Think of how self defeating such actions would be for these Mining Majors!

However, once the Sub Prime and consequential financial mess is finall put under sturdy steady hands (the new Government Corporation designed specifically for the need at hand) and what is remaining of the Investment Banks and the restoration of stable Commercial Banks if in place, THEN the BUY OUT Games can safely begin and the cash the Mining Majors, as well as much more parked under many mattresses can be put back to productive meaningful constructive use.

Old Joe