Wuhan Virus -
See FR threads on the virus for other issues. Below are the news items that grab my attention.
More potential economic chaos as US banks have begun testing crisis plans if a broader outbreak prevents staff from going to work. This includes teleworking and reduced staffing. Such plans could impact business interaction with banks, slowing the ability to respond. The results will likely be more intense gyrations of the stock market.
The most dramatic response so far is from Kings County, WA that is urging approximately 2.2 million residents to stay at home and those over 60 to stay indoors. This could be a prequil to mandatory lockdowns.
Many are looking to a national emergency declaration and mobilization of DHS assets and other resources to assist states. This could be a good or bad thing depending on the attitude of the state involved. Monitoring.
Turkey/Syria/Russia-
The Turkish offensive in Idlib continues with over the last four days, two Turkish brigades crossing into Syria accompanied by artillery, armed UAVs and F-16s. The Turks claim to have destroyed over a hundred Syrian armored vehicles, most of them tanks, along with two Su-24 fighter-bombers, eight helicopters and numerous unarmored vehicles. In spite of this, Russia hasn’t directly confront Turkey. Talks between the two countries are expected within the next couple days.
Israel -
Struck Hezbollah sites near Homs Syria overnight, currently has airspace restricted over the Golan today. Generally this has become a routine airstrike for Israel. With Turkey demolishing so much of the Syrian ADA capability in Idlib, its overall capability is stretched thin, giving Israel some additional leeway.
With Netanyahu’s win in the 3d election, the current parliament is still in session and passed a bill forbidding an indicted person from being PM as well as establishing (retroactively) term limits. This will no doubt create even greater chaos as Israel tries to establish a new government.
CW2 -
A democrat (Candi CdeBaca) councilwomen in Denver tweeted supporting deliberately spreading Wuhan virus as Trump rallies. Given the proclivities of the left to engage in violent / dangerous behavior, this threat should be taken seriously.
Susan Daniels was the original tweeter; both need investigating & charged with making Terr oristic threats at minimum.
Susan Daniels was the original tweeter; both need investigating & charged with making Terr oristic threats at minimum.
Sorry, been a very busy weekend for me, but still looking at things
Wuhan Virus -
See FR threads on the virus for other issues. Below are the news items that grab my attention.
Over the weekend, the start of voluntary to involuntary confinements/quarantines began. The NIH issued a warning that by summer the epidemic could involve millions in America. Lockdown responses observed in many locations around the world are not to be ruled out here. Both are driving the chicken little MSM to new hights of hyperbole. Take a deep breath, look at the facts, the direct impact and the rising secondary/tertiary impacts. Plan accordingly
Turkey/Greece/Bulgaria Refugees -
Border areas are still tense as Turkey tries to force thousands of refugees - mostly from Syria - into Greece/Bulgaria as pathways into the rest of Europe. Greece and Bulgaria have reinforced their border with military and in some instances repelled groups with lethal force. In Greece border areas, vigilante groups are targeting NGOs who are there to assist any refugees that manage to get into the country. Turkey, OTOH, is using its military to prevent repelled refugees from entering back into Turkey, creating essentially a no man’s land between the countries.
Saudi Arabia -
Four members of the royal family are reported to have been arrested on charges of plotting a coup.
Taliban -
Apparently true to form, the Taliban are intending to ignore the ‘peace’ treaty and continue their warring ways. If the Afghani’s want their country, they better stand up now.
N Korea -
Kim fired off another three to four short range ballistic missiles.
CW2 -
Following article regarding the National Lawyers Guild and its efforts supporting Antifa across the country is a good read to understand that organization for violence has become more organized and that has emboldened Antifa across the country.
https://amgreatness.com/2020/03/08/antifas-most-important-enabler-its-legal-arm/
Oil War -
This is the kind of Black Swan Event that we don’t need right now. Over the weekend Saudi Arabia and Russia essentially went to war over oil pricing and production. Russia refused to join in production caps endorsed by OPEC to keep prices high. Oil prices dropped something in the range of 30% overnight and triggered a massive stock sell off globally. In the US, trading was stopped for a period as circuit breakers were hit. Been a long time since that happened.
Fallout is that all oil producers will be hurt. Russia’s economy already crippled by low oil prices will be doubly hit. In the US, the drastic drop in oil prices will hit the fracking community in a major way and may cause some medium size companies to go bankrupt if the oil war lasts too long. US oil has been a critical part of the fuel that has lead to the economic recovery under Trump. Normally, low oil prices assist companies by reducing their energy costs, but in the present circumstances, it may be insufficient to overcome corona virus concerns/impacts. Expect a very rough ride in the stock market again this week.