Complete Debacle: Iran Totally Scraps Nuclear Deal, US-Led Coalition Suspends Anti-ISIS Operations In Iraq
Following a high-level meeting, Iran said late Sunday it would cease complying with any and all restrictions on its nuclear program.
“The Islamic Republic will no longer observe any limits on the operational aspects, to include uranium enrichment capacity, enrichment percentage, levels of enriched material and research and development", Fars said, citing a statement from the government.
Tehran had gradually fallen out of compliance with the terms of the agreement in an effort to compel the U
What’s that old saying? Everything that Trump touches turns to shit? Well my my, anyone surprised?
And Trump ‘fans’ love it. The Republican promotion-machine around his idiot kids shows the party is ALL-IN with Trump, and he’ll likely win the 2020 election by a landslide.
Dems can’t rally around ONE GOOD CANDIDATE to beat Trump. Who’s the centrist-front runner that appeals to majority of voters? There ain’t one. When Bernie et al attack Bloomberg, it shows how easily Dems will again splinter into factions and lose another one… ‘for the gipper.’
Tick, tick, tick. If there is a bad decision to be made our “Liar in Chief” will surely (“Don’t call me Shirley) make it. OK Trump voters are you willing to bet YOUR life on this guy?????
Decision time for republican senators history is coming like a freight train right at you. At least Pence only wants to blame Iran for 9/11 (laugh).
couple thoughts
1. the market is not likely to be greatly and sustainably moved by the dismantling of the US-led coaltion forces in Iraq, the resurgence of ISIS, Iranian attacks on US bases, or other developments in the Middle East, unless they involve something of immediate commercial importance. Namely, the flow of oil – that being the only real commercial relevance of the area.
2. Democratic voters are entering this election with a purpose, which is to oust Trump. polling shows that most Dem voters are primarily concerned with which candidate has the best chance of doing that, rather than which candidate most syncs up with their individual views. if any of the top four or five candidates is nominated, the great bulk of Dem voters will vote for whoever it is, no matter whoever it is. independents and the few remaining moderate Republicans are another story.
3. While I’d like a large pullback in risk assets – because I’m positioned too conservatively for a continuation of the levitating market of recent weeks – I don’t think Trump’s thoughtless blundering in Iraq is likely to produce that. A modest pullback or a stall, sure. To see a large pullback (SP500 down more than 10%) we need economic data, trade news, and earnings/estimates to be negative.
“To see a large pullback (SP500 down more than 10%) we need economic data, trade news, and earnings/estimates to be negative.”
Coming soon to a theater near you!
Whatever happen to those “sleeper cells” that were supposed to be in the US waiting to attack? Are they still here or did they fall apart?
I think you’re right about #2
H-Man,
It looks like POTUS is going win. Iraq has thrown us out and now POTUS can claim he ended our involvement in Iraq via his termination of a general for somewhat dubious reasons. Impeachment goes to the back of the bus while he is consumed with defending our country from (unwarranted) Iranian aggression. The playbook looks great until we see how Iran responds.
The Black Swann has arrived. Futures are responding to the downside for US equities but not in a land slide. Bonds are moving, but not with a rush to safety. Gold and silver are raging. Asian equities getting hit.
When the wings of the Swann flap, when Iran responds and POTUS counters, hang on for the ride.
If Iran strikes some US bases and embassies and the US strikes some Iranian bases and other defense assets, will the markets really be moved, beyond a couple day reflex? The markets have mostly shrugged off the US’ Middle East war. If the US starts destroying holy sites and killing the worshipers inside, the markets might care a little, and only because of the knock-on implications. If Iran successfully attacks US soil, the markets will care, because of the implications for consumer confidence. And we’ve mentioned oil.
But missiles and bombs have been killing masses in that region for years, including Americans, and investors largely don’t care. Does it materially affect corporate earnings, or the Fed backstop?
From a discussion with friends: “There is no doubt that the killing of Qassem Soleimani was a major event whose ramifications will be deep and lasting on many levels. In the words of Four Star General and former Director of the CIA David Petreaus, “It is impossible to overstate the importance of this particular action. It is more significant than the killing of Osama bin Laden or even the death of [Islamic State leader Abu Bakr] al-Baghdadi. Suleimani was the architect and operational commander of the Iranian effort to solidify control of the so-called Shia crescent, stretching from Iran to Iraq through Syria into southern Lebanon. He was] the most formidable adversary that we have faced for decades….This is a very significant effort to reestablish deterrence…” Soleimani reportedly established sleeper terrorist cells well beyond the Mideast, including in the United States; Shoshana Bryen writes that “Just last month, Ali Hourani, an American citizen, was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison for “helping Hezbollah and Iran prepare to strike strategic and vulnerable targets around New York City…” including airports and other critical infrastructure. As former Senator Joe Lieberman concludes in Monday’s Wall St. Journal, killing Soleimani was “morally, constitutionally and strategically correct”.