PENTAGON ABANDONS ACTIVE-DUTY TIME LIMIT
January 12th, 2007It’s coming fast and thick now… If you’re not familiar with the term total war, that might make for some interesting reading.
Via: Guardian:
The Pentagon has abandoned its limit on the time a citizen-soldier can be required to serve on active duty, officials said Thursday, a major change that reflects an Army stretched thin by longer-than-expected combat in Iraq.
The day after President Bush announced his plan for a deeper U.S. military commitment in Iraq, Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters the change in reserve policy would have been made anyway because active-duty troops already were getting too little time between their combat tours.
The Pentagon also announced it is proposing to Congress that the size of the Army be increased by 65,000, to 547,000 and that the Marine Corps, the smallest of the services, grow by 27,000, to 202,000, over the next five years. No cost estimate was provided, but officials said it would be at least several billion dollars.
Until now, the Pentagon’s policy on the Guard or Reserve was that members’ cumulative time on active duty for the Iraq or Afghan wars could not exceed 24 months. That cumulative limit is now lifted; the remaining limit is on the length of any single mobilization, which may not exceed 24 consecutive months, Pace said.
In other words, a citizen-soldier could be mobilized for a 24-month stretch in Iraq or Afghanistan, then demobilized and allowed to return to civilian life, only to be mobilized a second time for as much as an additional 24 months.
Rest in Peace: Robert Anton Wilson
January 12th, 2007Via: Robert Anton Wilson Blog:
Various medical authorities swarm in and out of here predicting I have between two days and two months to live. I think they are guessing. I remain cheerful and unimpressed. I look forward without dogmatic optimism but without dread. I love you all and I deeply implore you to keep the lasagna flying.
Please pardon my levity, I don’t see how to take death seriously. It seems absurd.
RAW
Russian Admiral Predicts Impending U.S. Strike Against Iran
January 12th, 2007Via: Kuwait News Agency:
MOSCOW, Jan 9 (KUNA) — Former Russian Black Sea Fleet Commander Admiral Edward Baltin said Tuesday that the presence of so many nuclear submarines in the Arab Gulf waters pointed to likely plans for a US attack against Iran.
Baltine, who was quoted by Interfax news agency, said the presence of US submarines in Gulf waters meant that Washington was contemplating a strike against Iran.
“The presence of the submarines indicates that Washington has not abandoned plans to launch a sudden attack against Iran,” the admiral said.
Oil: For the Gamblers Out There
January 12th, 2007WARNING: This is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold any financial instrument.
Back in July 2006, I wrote: “Oil? It could just as easily go to $45 before it goes to $200. I wouldn’t go near oil, long or short. It’s far too volatile.”
Oil was trading around record highs back then. Oh, what a difference a few months makes…
Oil is now trading around $52.
With oil prices gapping down, and analysts predicting more of the same…
Consider out of the money call options on March NYMEX Light Sweet Crude Oil.
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a more attractive collapsitalism opportunity. The weirdest moves in the markets tend to come when most people don’t expect them. (Of course, only insiders, crackpots and lunatics try to catch these moves.) So, as the financial press is focusing on mild weather and large inventories, blah, blah, blah, the U.S. just attacked Iran, a country that is probably in a position to shut down the transportation of oil from the Persian Gulf for an unknown period of time.
I haven’t even bothered to see how far out of the money these calls are going, but I’d get the cheapest ones available. This would be an all or nothing gamble. Maximum risk / Maximum reward. Consider your money gone, on a trade like this.
Of course, if you make money on this, you’ll make a pile. Spend it fast because the system as we know it might not be around for much longer after you take your winnings off the table!
Happy trading!
Cryptogon Reader Contributes $20
January 11th, 2007Thanks to Treason Holdings for the generous donation!
Gates: U.S. Military to Grow by 92,000 Troops
January 11th, 2007Do you get it yet?
Via: MSNBC:
At a briefing to add details about President Bush’s new Iraq strategy, Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Thursday said he would recommend increasing the Army and Marine Corps by 92,000 troops over the next five years.
On Iraq, Gates said that “failure in Iraq is not an option.”
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was also at the briefing, saying it was imperative for the Iraqi government to “re-establish civil order,” particularly in Baghdad.
Gates proposed adding 67,000 Army soldiers and 25,000 Marines, citing an annual increase of 7,000 for the Army and 5,000 for the Marines until the Marines reach 202,000 and the Army is at 547,000 troops.
The Army already has been authorized to boost the number of active-duty soldiers temporarily from 482,000 to a maximum of 512,000, although it has yet to reach that limit.
Iran Summons Swiss, Iraqi Diplomats
January 11th, 2007I think it would be a good idea to review your contingency plans and increase your state of readiness for an emergency. I’m not saying that this is going to happen, but if any news comes out about military action involving the Strait of Hormuz or Ras Tanura, all bets are off. At that point, you must assume that the situation represents a clear and present danger. Execute your contingency plans without hesitation.
I’m sorry if this sounds frightening, but we could all—very easily—be facing a catastrophic situation in a very short period of time.
Via: Washington Post:
Iran’s foreign ministry on Thursday summoned the Iraqi and Swiss envoys to Tehran over the detention of five Iranian staffers at a diplomatic mission in northern Iraq, state-run television reported.
The broadcast said the ministry had summoned the ambassadors and “demanded an explanation” about the incident. Switzerland represents American interests in Iran, where there is no U.S. embassy.
The summons followed an early morning raid in Iraq, where multinational forces stormed the building of an Iranian consulate in the Kurdish-controlled northern city of Irbil, 220 miles from Baghdad.
The troops detained the five staffers and confiscated computers and documents, according to local Kurdish officials in Irbil.
The U.S. military issued a statement saying it had taken six people into custody in the region but did not mention a raid on the Iranian consulate. It declined further comment.
U.S. RAIDS IRANIAN CONSULATE IN IRAQ
January 11th, 2007In other words, the U.S. just attacked Iran.
Via: BBC:
US forces have stormed an Iranian consulate in the northern Iraqi town of Irbil and seized five members of staff.
The troops raided the building at about 0300, taking away computers and papers, according to Kurdish media and senior local officials.
The US military had no immediate comment on the raid, which comes amid high tension between Iran and the US.
The Bush administration accuses Iran of helping fuel violence in Iraq, as well as trying to develop nuclear weapons.
U.S. Will Engage Syria and Iran
January 11th, 2007Can anyone see how this will not result in World War III?
Via: BBC:
Succeeding in Iraq also requires defending its territorial integrity – and stabilizing the region in the face of the extremist challenge.
This begins with addressing Iran and Syria. These two regimes are allowing terrorists and insurgents to use their territory to move in and out of Iraq.
Iran is providing material support for attacks on American troops.
We will disrupt the attacks on our forces. We will interrupt the flow of support from Iran and Syria.
And we will seek out and destroy the networks providing advanced weaponry and training to our enemies in Iraq.
Venezuelan Stock Market and Currency Collapse
January 11th, 2007The wheels are coming off the cart. The New World Order is going to look like every-man-for-himself for the foreseeable future. HA! Chávez should demand payment for oil in gold, and then back a new currency with that gold. Can you imagine how fast the U.S. bombers would be scrambled?
Via: Times Online:
Venezuela’s stock market tumbled almost 19 per cent and its currency lost a third of its value in unofficial trading as investors took fright at President Chávez’s plans to nationalise utilities as part of his “Socialist revolutionâ€.
