THE mining of our uranium is digging Australia into one big geo-political hole.

Russia, India and China all desperately want to get their hands on our massive deposits of uranium.

We've said yes to China, no to India and, as for Russia, we've swung from yes to no to probably one day.

It should never have come to this.

It is true that PM Kevin Rudd inherited this nuclear nightmare from John Howard, but the ALP should have seen it coming and tried to avert it.

Russia, India and China are all armed with nuclear weapons, but deny they want our uranium for weapons use and pledge to use it only for peaceful purposes.

How can we trust any of them, when they don't even trust each other?

Delhi, for example, is furious because the Rudd Government refuses to sell uranium to countries that aren't signatories to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which includes India.

India now claims that our uranium would actually be safer with it than with China.

How comforting. Then there's Russia.

The Rudd Government is now reconsidering the $1 billion deal struck by its Coalition predecessor a year ago to supply Russia with uranium. Good.

But why now, nine months post-election?

It's not that hard to say nyet.

The official explanation is punishment for Russia's incursion into Georgia, which sounds as noble as it is unlikely.

Even China, with strengthening ties to Russia and a long-running antipathy to the US, is resolutely neutral in the latest US-versus-Russia showdown.

If Georgia is the trigger, it paints Kevin Rudd as a Howard-style lackey of the US, prepared to talk tough only when hiding behind America's skirts.

The US has put its own nuclear co-operation agreement with Russia on hold over the Georgia conflict.

Does this mean that if Russia complies with its promise to withdraw from Georgia that all deals are back on? How could any sane person trust Russian PM Vladimir Putin?

Head of Parliament's treaties committee, Labor's Kelvin Thomson says you only have to look at Putin's eyes on your TV screen to know that he's one tough son of a gun who wouldn't think twice about double-crossing Australia.

Kelvin, who once signed a reference for Tony Mokbel, may not be the best judge of character but even he is suspect about Putin.

Vladamir Putin's eyes haven't changed one bit over the years and nor has the man.

Russia's PM seems to be the one constant in the whirling vortex that is today's global political scene. He is, and always has been, a ruthless bully.

Short of an epiphany, there's little chance Putin will become a harmless man any time soon.

Soon after his uranium deal with Australia, Putin went on national TV to boast that he was expanding Russia's nuclear weapons capabilities.

This is a man that smirks when dissidents are murdered in his country, who flouts the rule of law to stymie political enemies, who has threatened to aim nuclear weapons at major European cities.

He cuts off oil and gas supplies to neighbouring countries whenever he chooses.

The trafficking of nuclear products in Russia is rife, and everyone knows it.

The one thing that can be said in Putin's favour is, at least he is consistent.

If only the same could be said of our politicians.

Australia last week voted in India's favour on an inter-governmental agreement that regulates nuclear commerce.

This deal allows the US and India to engage in a deal that gives India access to nuclear technology and fuel.

What remains unmentioned is that Russia was also waiting for India to gain this waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group in order to build four more nuclear reactors in India.

Australia's exploitation of its substantial uranium deposits brings to mind the expression: "Lie down with dogs, you'll get up with fleas."

For those who hoped for a healthy dose of political change, patience is starting to wear thin.