Instead, we'll have only one nation to cower before--China:
FOR MANY Americans the phrase "rare earth" calls to mind nothing more consequential than the 1970s band responsible for such hits as "Get Ready" and "I Just Want to Celebrate." But lately China has been teaching the United States, and the world, a new definition. Rare-earth metals are 17 elements vital to high-tech products ranging from the Toyota Prius to the cellphone to the American military's precision-guided munitions. The People's Republic controls 97 percent of the world's supply. And Beijing suddenly has slashed exports, causing near-panic in Japanese industry and exposing the United States' own vulnerability.
Yep, as I already reported, new green cars will allow us to swap our dependence on oil for dependence on rare earths.
We might escape this new dependence, as the Post article describes, but I wouldn't count on it since the usual environmental suspects will probably find a way to screw that up.
UPDATE: At least this shouldn't be a national security problem since we'll have enough for weapons until new non-Chinese sources come online.
