[Cletus.D.Yokel]

:: allegedly involving mineral rights or broader strategic agreements... and ...Again, this deal does not explicitly reference mineral rights ::

Sounds like some thin sauce.
There appears to be some sort of agreement.
But I’d bet Mr. Shaffer is quite happy that the media is replicating his (self-indulgent fantasy?) claims about it.

[rodguy911]

Truth is I stumbled on Shaffer right after 911. I've followed him on and off since. HIs track record is impeccible,he knew 911 was going to happen and tried to tell people but the ones the tried to tell apparently knew as well.

I have always seen him as a super=patriot and nothing less.

AI3 appears to be like some people I know. They are super paranoid about ever being wrong. To the point that even when they are right they hedge their bets.