CHINA, RARE EARTHS, & ROCKY MOUNTAIN INSTRUMENTS

Defense Industry Daily is reporting on Rare Earths. They say: "Breaking China’s monopoly: United States Department of Defense considers funding private US providers of rare earth metals used in high-tech weapons to break China’s near monopoly"


In a very real 21st Century way America's national security is at risk. To sustain bleeding edge superiority in high tech manufacturing, much of which is vital to America's national defense, the United States must have access to Rare Earths. H.R. 6160 cannot be permitted to languish in the United States Senate.

On a related front Rocky Mountain Instruments (RMI) just got busted for selling national defense related optics to China without a license. RMI appears to have violated the False Claims Act. Bottom line is that RMI is paying a $1,000,000 fine.

That's not all. The Department of Justice says:

"On June 23, 2009, RMI, a manufacturer of optical components used in laser and imaging applications, filed a petition for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Colorado. To settle the False Claims Act allegations, RMI has agreed to pay the United States $1 million as part of its bankruptcy reorganization. This amount is in addition to a $1 million criminal forfeiture and five year probationary term ordered in connection with RMI’s June 22, 2010, plea of guilty to knowingly and willfully exporting defense articles without a license in United States v. Rocky Mountain Instrument Company, 10-cr-00139-WYD-01 (D. Colo.)."

"Some foreign countries and terrorist organizations are actively seeking sensitive U.S. technology and equipment to advance their weapons systems and other programs," said Tony West, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the Department of Justice. "We are committed to vigorous enforcement of our export control laws, all of which are designed to keep America’s critical technology from falling into the wrong hands."

There are reasons that Chinese corporations gave money to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in the apparent attempt to influence today's elections. I say let the Department of Justice make a full investigation of the Chamber of Commerce. Treason and espionage may well be afoot!