Kloppers of BHP behind the scenes – Wiklileaks

Kloppers had asked US diplomats for insights on China’s intentions and said he would be willing to trade secrets in order to obtain that information

Drilling Kloppers Business Spectator, Supratim Adhikari, 15 Feb 2011, “….WikiLeaks. According to leaked US diplomatic cable, Kloppers took personal credit for derailing the $23.9 billion tie-up between Rio Tinto and Chinalco, describing the move as a strategic victory for BHP.

The cable adds that Kloppers had expressed confidence that Rio’s new chairman, Jan du Plessis, a fellow South African would be “more amenable” to doing a iron ore tie-up with BHP. Rio and BHP did announce a joint venture soon after the Chinalco deal was buried, however, it was subsequently scuttled by global regulators.

Interestingly, the cable doesn’t just shed light on the deal but also cites occasions where the BHP boss had told US consul-general Michael Thurston of his concerns about covert surveillance against his company by the Chinese, Rio Tinto and the Australian government.

There are further revelations that Kloppers had asked US diplomats for insights on China’s intentions and said he would be willing to trade secrets in order to obtain that information. The paper also cites occasions where the BHP boss had told US consul-general Michael Thurston of his concerns about covert surveillance against his company by the Chinese, Rio Tinto and the Australian government.

News of behind the scenes machination by miners at Canberra is not a huge surprise to everyone and BHP’s involvement in the Rio-Chinalco deal was revealed in December. But the latest salvo from WikiLeaks has a distinctly personal tone, one that won’t be appreciated by Kloppers. However, with the cables yet to be made public it will be a while before the public can make up its own mind.
BREAKFAST DEALS: Drilling Kloppers | Supratim Adhikari | Wheels and Deals | Business Spectator

February 15, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | AUSTRALIA - NATIONAL, secrets and lies | secrets and lies

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1.This month.

The Road to War brings a sharp focus to why it is not in Australia’s best interest to be dragged into a war with China which will almost inevitably go nuclear very quickly. The filmmaker has interviewed some of Australia’s senior foreign policy analysts who have vast experience behind them in analysing what really is going on here as the United States rattles its sabres with China. And sets us up to be its proxy, like the poor Ukranians have been fed into the Meatgrinder. So America can remain the Top Dog. The Road to War reveals how the United States through its spy base at Pine Gap and by stationing six nuclear capable B52 bombers in the Top End (without permission from the traditional owners) is making Australia a prime nuclear target if the current war of words suddenly melts down into full scale war.

The Road to War shows the implicit connection between Carbon emissions (the US military uses a whopping 70% of America’s annual petroleum to move its armies and vast War Machine around the globe to its 800+ military bases..but under a loophole wangled at Kyoto, the US military does not have to report its C02 annual emissions). The Road to War starts screening at selected cities and regional centres in March. See the trailer end for details.

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