In case you missed it please see the below link to an interesting story from 60 Minutes tonight on CBS. Though many of the rare earths aren't so rare as the story implies they are found in commercially viable deposits in only a handful of know places on our planet and China controls the vast majority of their supply. These are considered technology metals and they are considered critical for both the high tech lifestyle we enjoy today and in the defense systems that help protect it. The British Geological Survey has had the Rare Earths pegged at the top slot on their Risk List for some time now. Mainstream media is now starting to catch on.
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/rare-earth-elements-not-so-rare-after-all/