Well wadda ya know. After repositioning a few aircraft carriers, a lot of aircraft and drawing a “red line” deadline for negotiating with Iran, BOOM. A new war to kick off the week. This one is really serious because we (the U.S.) have Americans in harms way. To be sure, there is a lot of harm out there.
Over the past year or so it seems rules have changed. Meaning, rules of “cleaning up the planet.” It used to be you had to officially declare war before you actually attacked another country. Hours before Japan attacked Pearl Harbor the Japanese Ambassador delivered an official “here we come” letter to the President. Not now. The attack comes first, killing the leader of a foreign country and war is under way. Probably more efficient, but……
Every new week has had something new, and media ready, for investors in the financial markets. Tariffs, inflation, social media, etc etc. But after the swift and painless abduction (OK, kidnapping) of the president of Venezuela the bar seems to be set ever higher. Scary. Already the Iran/U.S. war has spun out of control spreading throughout the region. AND, it’s only three days old.
So, not wanting to look to far ahead and assuming (??) everything goes as planned in the Middle East, what comes next? What week will be the beginning of eliminating a huge threat like…..North Korea? Venezuela was kid stuff. Drug cartels a bit more challenging. Iran….TBD.
For quite some time the financial markets have completely ignored a pile of “troubling” news. The bull has kept running. But sometime things will not be overlooked. Sometimes developments really are to be taken seriously. Turning the Mideast upside down is serious.
But, just in case it is not as serious as it may seem, this could be the best time to book vacations to Tehran, Iran and surrounding countries. They are cheap but there are lots of “you’re at your own risk” waivers to sign.
