I am thinking about the Chinese connection to all this (always dangerous, me engaging in thinking), so, here are some speculations.
China holds a whole lot of our worthless treasuries, and it is possible that they are demanding “payback” by taking our physical assets.
It is known that China is buying up all of the west’s gold. And there is speculation that there is no longer any physical gold at Fort Knox - all has been leased, or “re-hypothecated”.
I have read that the land the Chinese purchased in Nevada was sold to them (with Dirty Harry & family’s “help”) for 10 cents on the dollar. The Chinese also bought a major building in NYC (JP Morgan’s?) way below assessed value. This all needs fact-checking, of course.
This land for the solar project is not where Bundy had the grazing and water rights, but Bundy’s land was needed for the “carbon credits”, as an required offset.
If the Feds can’t get Bundy off the land, the solar project cannot take place, and I have read that the Chinese have backed off from proceeding with the project for the time being, perhaps for legal reasons.
If any of these suppositions are true, then Dirty Harry & family might in a big pickle, having been financially compensated for their services. Is so, it suggests more trouble ahead for the Bundys.
See comment #10.
Also, just because the Reids’ deal with the Chinese had the brakes put on it doesn’t mean it can’t or won’t get back underway asap.
Bundy has gone ‘round and ‘round in the ocurts over all this, and his argument at this point seems to be to challenge federal jurisdiction in the matter. Makes sense to me. Seems like the feds and speciasl interests have just been running roughshod over cattle ranchers there for quite some time.