Statements, comments and forecasts that have no substance, but just might turn out to be relevant.
1. David Horovitz: But the deal is far worse than even our relentlessly lowered expectations had given us reason to anticipate. The Arak heavy water plant is not to be dismantled. Why not? Because this was the best deal we could get. The Fordo enrichment facility, built secretly into a mountain, is not to be shuttered. Why not? Because this was the best deal we could get. Thousands of centrifuges are to be allowed to keep on spinning. Thousands more will remain intact. For heaven’s sake, why? Because this was the best deal we could get. All this according to the — so far — undisputed elements of the unsigned agreement. COMMENT: The Obama-Kerry Implosion. The quiet whisperings in the Iranian Caliphate have changed to raucous derision. They are already cheating. Read more http://www.timesofisrael.com/the-unfolding-farce-of-obamas-deal-with-iran/#ixzz3Wjbw0Pii
2.Job approval ratings for President Obama have dropped among American Jews from 61 percent to 50 percent since the start of 2015, a new Gallup poll found.
The American Jews interviewed for the poll released this week gave Obama a 50 percent approval rating in March, dropping from 52 percent in February and 61 percent in January.
The poll results were based on interviews with 1,022 Americans who identified themselves as Jewish and conducted as part of daily tracking from January through the end of March.
COMMENT: In the last election, 70% of American Jews voted Obama. Maybe some are beginning to realize that this man's naivety, his personal likes and dislikes and his non-existent red lines are facilitating a dangerous security environment for Americans at home and worldwide.
3. NYT: The White House relented on Tuesday and said President Obama would sign a compromise bill giving Congress a voice on the proposed nuclear accord with Iran as the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in rare unanimous agreement, moved the legislation to the full Senate for a vote. White House officials insisted they extracted crucial last-minute concessions. Republicans — and many Democrats — said the president simply got overrun.
COMMENT: Music to my ears.
4.Stratfor: Several events in Gaza in recent months have indicated the possible presence of Islamic State affiliates. The highest-profile incident was the arrest of a Salafist cleric on April 6 by Hamas' security forces. More interesting is the series of attacks that preceded and followed the arrest. A number of improvised explosive devices have been set off around Gaza City, typically causing minimal damage and no casualties. COMMENT: We at the Gallery and the IDF wish ISIS the best of success in Gaza. Read more: https://www.stratfor.com/sample/analysis/hamas-cracks-down-islamic-state-gaza
5. NYT: As the Russians gradually assumed control of Uranium One in three separate transactions from 2009 to 2013, Canadian records show, a flow of cash made its way to the Clinton Foundation. Uranium One’s chairman used his family foundation to make four donations totaling $2.35 million. Those contributions were not publicly disclosed by the Clintons, despite an agreement Mrs. Clinton had struck with the Obama White House to publicly identify all donors. And shortly after the Russians announced their intention to acquire a majority stake in Uranium One, Mr. Clinton received $500,000 for a Moscow speech from a Russian investment bank with links to the Kremlin that was promoting Uranium One stock. Whether the donations played any role in the approval of the uranium deal is unknown. COMMENT: Does this pass a smell test....I doubt it. Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/24/us/cash-flowed-to-clinton-foundation-as-russians-pressed-for-control-of-uranium-company.html
6. BO: “They (the Dems) don’t know what they’re talking about.” [TPP] is the most progressive trade agreement in our history,” he said. “It’s got strong provisions for works strong provisions for the environment. And unlike some past trade agreements, all these provisions are actually enforceable. COMMENT: This agreement is strongly supported by the Republicans. What happened to the 99 percent? Who remembers Occupy Wall Street or the unions and the poor masses who rushed to support their messiah? Obama printed trillions, Wall Street made a fortune, the banks are coining it and the poor...well they are at war with the cops and getting poorer. As for the almost non existent middle class and small business? They just have to suck it up. The social wars have just begun. Read more: http://www.cnbc.com/id/102618055
A lie makes it all the way around the world and the truth – which is often less interesting than the lie – makes it to the bottom of a Google search.
Alan Dershowitz
Friday, April 24, 2015
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Preposterous Predictions...Follow Up
Sunday, January 18, 2015 - How are we doing today 19th April 2015?
Preposterous Predictions
If we get 7 out of 10 predictions correct that would be pretty good!
1.The Middle East will continue to degenerate into the wild east, with Libya, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and a surprising erosion in Turkey. Sunni and Shiite extremists will battle it out with each other and with secular muslims. To add a little spice to this Jihadist salad, they will target a confused western world with growing appetites the way a predator senses fear and goes for the jugular.
2. And since misery loves company, Africa as a continent will have to contend with a rising Islamic wave (Boko Harem, al Shabaab and Ansar al sharia to name a few) together with tribal rivalries, water and food shortages. Not a pretty sight. Anyone contemplating going on Safari, should stick to South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Tanzania.
3.We will witness the demise of OPEC as energy markets wallow in oversupply interrupted by the occasional civil war. Even countries will go belly up, the most conspicuous being Venezuela closely followed by Libya and Nigeria.
4. The US Iran nuclear negotiations will draw to a successful close, and most sanctions will be lifted. That might sound like good news to Iran but they will find that three things cannot be hidden...the sun, the moon and the truth. In this case the elephant in the room is that by adding Iran's oil supply to the present glut, it will cause a further deterioration in the price. Iran needs oil at $131 dollars a barrel to balance even the most meagre budget. Conclusion easily drawn.
5. Russia and Putin will survive the oil crisis, the Russian people being made of sterner stuff than most. Russia and China will form the baby nucleus of an alliance which will in time challenge the US in many spheres. China will use its huge foreign currency reserves to create new partnerships in emerging markets, notably in countries badly hit by the oil and commodities crises. They are already thinking ahead to the next cycle.
6. Europe has reached the point of no return. Create liquidity or slip into recession. Recession could easily exacerbate the already growing anti-immigration, anti EU groups, whose political power is now something that is of concern to the powers that may be.
7.The two major macroeconomic drivers for 2015 will be the rising US dollar and a global currency war. Central banks, whom until now have worked in tandem will diverge into a "every man for himself" mode, while slowing economies with large US denominated debt will struggle to repay that debt, pressuring an international USD credit bubble already under strain.
8. The US federal reserve who in the minds of many can do no wrong, will find themselves in a quandary as to dealing with the strong USD and raising of US Interest rates, while worldwide inflation flirts with a negative figure. In 2015, we will learn that the markets are bigger and more powerful than even the vaunted Federal Reserve.
9. Many banking systems will be tottering as 2015 unfolds (especially Russia), markets will be volatile, as already witnessed and protection of principle, rather than creation of profits should be the name of the game as regards portfolio management. With so much uncertainty, we make a wild prediction that gold will hit at least $1800 an ounce.
10. President Obama will use the coming period to try and get done what he was unable to accomplish while in control of both houses of congress. The impending collapse of the shale oil boom will dampen some of the economic achievements of his presidency and as for foreign policy achievements....I'm sure he would prefer to forget his creation of an "arab spring".
11. Israel is always at number 11 and outside the ten forecasts. Why you may ask? Israel from year to year remains a shining light to the world, regardless of the tinted sunglasses with which some may view this.
We really can't forecast all that well, and yet we pretend that we can, but we really can't - Alan Greenspan.
Weather forecast for tonight: dark - George Carlin
Preposterous Predictions
If we get 7 out of 10 predictions correct that would be pretty good!
1.The Middle East will continue to degenerate into the wild east, with Libya, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and a surprising erosion in Turkey. Sunni and Shiite extremists will battle it out with each other and with secular muslims. To add a little spice to this Jihadist salad, they will target a confused western world with growing appetites the way a predator senses fear and goes for the jugular.
2. And since misery loves company, Africa as a continent will have to contend with a rising Islamic wave (Boko Harem, al Shabaab and Ansar al sharia to name a few) together with tribal rivalries, water and food shortages. Not a pretty sight. Anyone contemplating going on Safari, should stick to South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Tanzania.
3.We will witness the demise of OPEC as energy markets wallow in oversupply interrupted by the occasional civil war. Even countries will go belly up, the most conspicuous being Venezuela closely followed by Libya and Nigeria.
4. The US Iran nuclear negotiations will draw to a successful close, and most sanctions will be lifted. That might sound like good news to Iran but they will find that three things cannot be hidden...the sun, the moon and the truth. In this case the elephant in the room is that by adding Iran's oil supply to the present glut, it will cause a further deterioration in the price. Iran needs oil at $131 dollars a barrel to balance even the most meagre budget. Conclusion easily drawn.
5. Russia and Putin will survive the oil crisis, the Russian people being made of sterner stuff than most. Russia and China will form the baby nucleus of an alliance which will in time challenge the US in many spheres. China will use its huge foreign currency reserves to create new partnerships in emerging markets, notably in countries badly hit by the oil and commodities crises. They are already thinking ahead to the next cycle.
6. Europe has reached the point of no return. Create liquidity or slip into recession. Recession could easily exacerbate the already growing anti-immigration, anti EU groups, whose political power is now something that is of concern to the powers that may be.
7.The two major macroeconomic drivers for 2015 will be the rising US dollar and a global currency war. Central banks, whom until now have worked in tandem will diverge into a "every man for himself" mode, while slowing economies with large US denominated debt will struggle to repay that debt, pressuring an international USD credit bubble already under strain.
8. The US federal reserve who in the minds of many can do no wrong, will find themselves in a quandary as to dealing with the strong USD and raising of US Interest rates, while worldwide inflation flirts with a negative figure. In 2015, we will learn that the markets are bigger and more powerful than even the vaunted Federal Reserve.
9. Many banking systems will be tottering as 2015 unfolds (especially Russia), markets will be volatile, as already witnessed and protection of principle, rather than creation of profits should be the name of the game as regards portfolio management. With so much uncertainty, we make a wild prediction that gold will hit at least $1800 an ounce.
10. President Obama will use the coming period to try and get done what he was unable to accomplish while in control of both houses of congress. The impending collapse of the shale oil boom will dampen some of the economic achievements of his presidency and as for foreign policy achievements....I'm sure he would prefer to forget his creation of an "arab spring".
11. Israel is always at number 11 and outside the ten forecasts. Why you may ask? Israel from year to year remains a shining light to the world, regardless of the tinted sunglasses with which some may view this.
We really can't forecast all that well, and yet we pretend that we can, but we really can't - Alan Greenspan.
Weather forecast for tonight: dark - George Carlin
Monday, April 6, 2015
The Peanut Gallery
Statements, comments and forecasts that have no substance, but just might turn out to be relevant.
1.Ben-Dror Yemini: The Muslim world is undergoing a massive upheaval. Arab identity is disappearing. National identity is falling apart. The identity on the rise is Islamic, tribal and sectarian. Death and destruction have reached monumental proportions. Muslims are murdering hundreds of thousands of Muslims. None of the bloody conflicts – between Shias and Sunnis, and between Sunnis and Sunnis – have anything to do with Israel or the Palestinians. Most of those perpetrating the killings don't even know where Israel is on the map. COMMENT: A Two-State solution in today's Israel is the wishful thinking of the deranged. Truthfully I have no solution, but my priority is definite. Keep Israel safe!
2.The chairman of the left Zionist Union on his Facebook page: "I refuse to join those applauding the agreement with Iran, because the truth is it keeps me awake at night,” Cabel wrote. “President Obama promises that if the Iranians cheat, the world will know, but isn’t that exactly what the Americans promised after the agreement with North Korea?” He said that when it comes to Iran, there is no Left or Right or coalition or opposition in Israel, only Israelis. “When a crazy religious regime with a proven track record of terrorism and cheating receives permission to get that close to a nuclear bomb, I am very worried,” Cabel wrote, and then adding more criticism of Obama. “The fact that the man who is in charge of making sure the deal won’t be broken has a proven record of mocking his own redlines, makes me even more worried.” COMMENT: The Peanut Gallery agrees with every word.
3.Isis has reportedly begun beheading captives after taking over the majority of a large Palestinian refugee camp in Syria. UN officials said scenes on the ground in the Yarmouk camp just south of Damascus were “beyond inhumane”, as rebels from the so-called Islamic State and al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra vied for control of the camp, which houses around 18,000 civilians. COMMENT: Imagine if these guys took control of Ramallah. Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-accused-of-beheading-captives-in-palestinian-refugee-camp-yarmouk-as-advance-towards-syrian-capital-damascus-continues-10158061.html
4. The deal with the Iranian Caliphate is first and foremost a direct threat to western civilizations. As far as Israel is concerned, the threat is less nuclear, but more immediate. The Iranians are choking economically and are desperate for funds to continue their regional expansion. Obama is in the process of opening this gate to the joy of the celebrating Iranians, Hizbollah, Hamas, Somalia, Houthis of Yemen and Syria. So what if they discontinue their nuclear plans (which is seriously doubtful). Iran is in a win-win situation thanks to the famous Obama doctrine of appeasement.
5. “This strategy of taking out terrorists who threaten us, while supporting partners on the front lines, is one that we have successfully pursued in Yemen and Somalia for years,” Obama said in September 2014 (yeah man...only six months ago) as he outlined his strategy to degrade and destroy ISIS. COMMENT: Two failed states and the US cannot even evacuate its own citizens. Islam is imploding. The only questions left are ...Is the Obama doctrine imploding as well? Is this an imploding presidency? Why should anyone trust this man?
6.Stratfor: The Russian economy has been in steep decline for more than a year and is slipping into another recession. A constellation of factors is causing the decline, including lower oil prices, the West's sanctions, and sour Western investment attitudes because of the Ukraine crisis. This has led to massive capital flight of around $160 billion in 2014 and an estimated $80 billion in 2015; a volatile ruble that lost 40 percent of its value in late 2014; and a likely federal budget deficit of approximately $45 billion in 2015. COMMENT: The Russians are a different proposition to the weak western civilizations. They have survived much worse than this.
7.WSJ: Oil prices surged to their biggest gains in two months on signs of rising demand in both the U.S. and Asia. Light, sweet crude for May delivery rose $3, or 6.1%, to $52.14 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It was the U.S. benchmark’s biggest day of gains since Feb. 3 and its highest settlement since Feb. 17. COMMENT: take note that since the fall to $43 a barrel, the price of oil is now moving sideways.
Principle Number One: The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions
1.Ben-Dror Yemini: The Muslim world is undergoing a massive upheaval. Arab identity is disappearing. National identity is falling apart. The identity on the rise is Islamic, tribal and sectarian. Death and destruction have reached monumental proportions. Muslims are murdering hundreds of thousands of Muslims. None of the bloody conflicts – between Shias and Sunnis, and between Sunnis and Sunnis – have anything to do with Israel or the Palestinians. Most of those perpetrating the killings don't even know where Israel is on the map. COMMENT: A Two-State solution in today's Israel is the wishful thinking of the deranged. Truthfully I have no solution, but my priority is definite. Keep Israel safe!
2.The chairman of the left Zionist Union on his Facebook page: "I refuse to join those applauding the agreement with Iran, because the truth is it keeps me awake at night,” Cabel wrote. “President Obama promises that if the Iranians cheat, the world will know, but isn’t that exactly what the Americans promised after the agreement with North Korea?” He said that when it comes to Iran, there is no Left or Right or coalition or opposition in Israel, only Israelis. “When a crazy religious regime with a proven track record of terrorism and cheating receives permission to get that close to a nuclear bomb, I am very worried,” Cabel wrote, and then adding more criticism of Obama. “The fact that the man who is in charge of making sure the deal won’t be broken has a proven record of mocking his own redlines, makes me even more worried.” COMMENT: The Peanut Gallery agrees with every word.
3.Isis has reportedly begun beheading captives after taking over the majority of a large Palestinian refugee camp in Syria. UN officials said scenes on the ground in the Yarmouk camp just south of Damascus were “beyond inhumane”, as rebels from the so-called Islamic State and al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra vied for control of the camp, which houses around 18,000 civilians. COMMENT: Imagine if these guys took control of Ramallah. Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-accused-of-beheading-captives-in-palestinian-refugee-camp-yarmouk-as-advance-towards-syrian-capital-damascus-continues-10158061.html
4. The deal with the Iranian Caliphate is first and foremost a direct threat to western civilizations. As far as Israel is concerned, the threat is less nuclear, but more immediate. The Iranians are choking economically and are desperate for funds to continue their regional expansion. Obama is in the process of opening this gate to the joy of the celebrating Iranians, Hizbollah, Hamas, Somalia, Houthis of Yemen and Syria. So what if they discontinue their nuclear plans (which is seriously doubtful). Iran is in a win-win situation thanks to the famous Obama doctrine of appeasement.
5. “This strategy of taking out terrorists who threaten us, while supporting partners on the front lines, is one that we have successfully pursued in Yemen and Somalia for years,” Obama said in September 2014 (yeah man...only six months ago) as he outlined his strategy to degrade and destroy ISIS. COMMENT: Two failed states and the US cannot even evacuate its own citizens. Islam is imploding. The only questions left are ...Is the Obama doctrine imploding as well? Is this an imploding presidency? Why should anyone trust this man?
6.Stratfor: The Russian economy has been in steep decline for more than a year and is slipping into another recession. A constellation of factors is causing the decline, including lower oil prices, the West's sanctions, and sour Western investment attitudes because of the Ukraine crisis. This has led to massive capital flight of around $160 billion in 2014 and an estimated $80 billion in 2015; a volatile ruble that lost 40 percent of its value in late 2014; and a likely federal budget deficit of approximately $45 billion in 2015. COMMENT: The Russians are a different proposition to the weak western civilizations. They have survived much worse than this.
7.WSJ: Oil prices surged to their biggest gains in two months on signs of rising demand in both the U.S. and Asia. Light, sweet crude for May delivery rose $3, or 6.1%, to $52.14 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It was the U.S. benchmark’s biggest day of gains since Feb. 3 and its highest settlement since Feb. 17. COMMENT: take note that since the fall to $43 a barrel, the price of oil is now moving sideways.
Principle Number One: The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions
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