just like Obama will keep us from drilling here
Do the folks who keep reading these alarming news articles ever do some research into what it takes to mine this stuff and why there are "difficulties"?
I'm just guessing it's the Chicoms involved part that interests them, not the rare earth business at all.
For the uninitiated rare earths are mostly the residue left behind when radio active thorium breaks down.
There can be, and often is, radioactive residue in the vicinity of mineable rare earths.
You have to DO STUFF to make mining rare earths safe for the miners ~ and the managers too. No crispy critters for them ~ oh no sir ee ~ no crispy critters.