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Showing posts with label Palestine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Palestine. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Mitt Romney Says The Obvious

SEARCH BLOG: PALESTINE and ROMNEY

Politics is the art of deceit and deception.  It's obvious that Mitt Romney, while a pretty good businessman, is sorely lacking in political skills:

The new footage was posted on Tuesday on the website of the liberal investigative magazine Mother Jones, which said it was taken at a fundraiser in May in Boca Raton, Florida. 
Mr Romney is shown saying that Palestinians are "committed to the destruction and elimination of Israel". 
"The Palestinians have no interest whatsoever in establishing peace," he says, adding that "the pathway to peace is almost unthinkable to accomplish". [more]
That these comments can evoke political outrage from the left is evidence that stating the obvious is about the same degree of political blasphemy as ungracious cartoons of the Prophet.

Truth about Islam and Muslims hurts, so never say it.

2012 IS HERE

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Monday, January 09, 2012

The Military Strategy Of The Commander In Chief

SEARCH BLOG: OBAMA

President Obama and former CIA Director and currently Secretary of Defense, Leon Panetta, announced sweeping changes to the U.S. military.

Now that the Middle East has become an international peace zone, the President wants to draw down U.S. land forces and shift high-tech resources to the Asian front where massive hostilities with China are considered a foregone conclusion.  The focus will be on the use of this  high-tech approach designed to intimidate the several million man Chinese armed forces.

In Tom Clancy's SSN fashion, China is seen to be the logical source of future threats to the U.S. and the rest of the world... once it has drained every cent of the world's wealth through selling low-priced toys that cannot be manufactured anyplace else but China and built up its army, navy, air force, space force, and Modern Warfare force.  This will be followed by the takeover of Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Los Angeles unless the U.S. can do something... anything... maybe. [STRATEGY ONE: WE CAN DOWNPLAY PRESENT ACTUAL THREATS AND HOSTILITIES TO FOCUS ON POSSIBLE ONES]
As part of the strategy to contain China, the U.S. has decided to give all of its anti-missile secrets to Russia in the hope that the Russians will not join China against it.  This stroke of military genius follows an obscure Central Asian strategist who attempted to build his long-forgotten country's security by giving away military information to Attila the Hun on the premise that Attila would not fear them if they showed their good intentions.  Attila did not fear them.

Meanwhile, President Obama is also encouraging more U.S. corporations to invest in China saying, "The Chinese need technology transfer, legal or otherwise, to ensure that they will be able to continue supplying us all of the things that we currently make for ourselves.  The U.S. cannot morally keep either its military or civilian technology secrets from those who want them."  This policy, of course, will not apply to U.S. citizens who attempt to obtain such secrets... especially military secrets.  They will be tried for espionage. [STRATEGY TWO: IGNORANCE IS THE ROOT OF ALL PROBLEMS SO WE JUST NEED TO BE MORE FORTHCOMING WITH OUR SECRETS TO OUR COMPETITORS AND ADVERSARIES]

Some nations and three people in the U.S. have expressed concern about President Obama's notion that the hostilities in the Middle East are over.  They note that the precipitous withdrawal of all U.S. troops from Iraq followed by negotiations to turn over Afghanistan to the Taliban (as long as they really promised to be really good) might have been grounded less in reason and more in simply being tired of the whole thing.  Meanwhile, President Obama urged Israel to consider Iran, Syria, Lebanon, and the Palestinians to be simply good neighbors who want "to take down the fence that separates them."  He also noted that his Administration plans to stand behind Israel 100%... way behind... completely out of the picture behind. [STRATEGY THREE: IF WE APPEAR TO MAKE A REALLY GOOD EFFORT, IT IS APPROPRIATE TO NOT COMPLETE THE EFFORT]
The U.S. military should be able to ensure national security with smaller conventional ground forces, the U.S. president said. He vowed to get rid of "outdated Cold War-era systems" [nuclear weapons, missiles, bombers] while investing in the capabilities needed for the future, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, as well as counterterrorism, among others. [source] 
It appears we will watch adversaries into submission.

The President hopes that these measures will free up to $1 trillion over the next decade.  Said the President, "We'll miss a few things, such as a standing army, but that is a small price to pay for Middle East peace and ensuring that my rounds of golf in Hawaii are not threatened by hoards of Chinese seamstresses overrunning the islands."  [STRATEGY FOUR: MILITARY STUFF IS REALLY BOTHERSOME SO MAKING THE MILITARY MUCH SMALLER FREES UP MY TIME]



My, doesn't Gen. Dempsey look pleased?


All right.  There was some tongue-in-cheek in this post... but I'm not laughing... and neither should you.  Read the links in this post and you'll understand more.

See also:
TUESDAY, JANUARY 03, 2012Snatching Defeat

2012 IS HERE

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Monday, September 13, 2010

No Bias In U.S. Media

SEARCH BLOG: NEWSPAPERS

From The Huffington Post:

2010-09-09-ign_32_151_3216.jpg



"The Palestinian Authority will never recognize Israel as a Jewish state,..Such a declaration would directly threaten the Muslims and Christians in Israel and prevent Palestinian refugees, who left their homes and villages a number of decades ago, from being granted the right to return to them." 

Senior Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath shortly
after the start of US sponsored peace talks

This rather shocking comment made at a Ramallah press conference last week by one of the supposedly more "moderate" members of the Palestinian leadership produced headlines throughout both the Arab world and Israel.
Amazingly it received nary a mention in the major American media! [source]
Another "moderate" Muslim shows the true nature of Islamists... and the U.S. press.

When the left-wing The Huffington Post speaks out against any Muslims, that's news.

And threaten Muslims and Christians?  Wonderland wasn't that strange for Alice.

2012 IS GETTING CLOSER

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Wednesday, June 02, 2010

The Wave Of The Future

SEARCH BLOG: POLITICS

From The Economist:

The country’s crushing poverty is on parade. The biggest block of flats opposite the Chinese border town of Tumen, where the rent-a-binoculars trade flourishes, has no lights on in the fading daylight and its inhabitants can be seen drawing water in buckets from a well. The North Korean farms that run down to the river are so dilapidated they make the regimented red-and blue-roofed housing blocks on the Chinese side look cosy by comparison. Farmers work close enough to the river to see you waving. They do not wave back. [read more]
In the ivy-covered towers of our eastern universities, no one asks the question about why North Koreans put up with their government. Most of the focus seems to be on why Israel has a harsh approach to anything regarding the Palestinians.  Yet one could make the case that there is a great similarity between the so-called leaders of the Palestinians and the rogue government of North Korea... both leading to misery of the people living under the rule of those "leaders."

North Koreans have given up hope.  The iron fist of the government-military siphons all of the resources within that geography or going into it.  The people survive on bare subsistence... if they survive at all.

In the areas where the Palestinians live, people are subject to the whims of Hezbollah or Hamas or both.  Before that Yassar Arafat become wealthy on the backs of the refugees.  These leaders and organizations rely on the misery of the Palestinians.  It is part of the grand scheme of power.  By making Israel the bogeyman and provoking military responses from Israel, these organization solidify their importance and power.

The fact is that had the Palestinians been led by peacemakers instead of those intent on the destruction of Israel, the "Ivy Towerers" would not have taken notice.  They need suffering and a cause.  So why the focus on the Palestinians and not the North Koreans?  Good question.

For one thing, the Ivy Towerers see what is happening in North Korea as an "internal matter."  They see Israel's reaction toward the hostile Palestinian organizations as evidence of the "Zionist problem."  The Ivy Towerers have bought into the notion that the only impediment to Middle East peace is the existence of Israel... in direct alignment with Hezbollah.  Oh, maybe not in so many words, but in the condemnation of everything that Israel does to defend itself against the aggression from Iran, Syria, Lebanon [and now Turkey?] and their Palestinian proxies.

How many more countries need leaders like North Korea's, Iran's, and the Palestinian's... where power based on misery is the goal... before the Ivy Towerers notice that no one is waving back?

2012 IS GETTING CLOSER

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Thursday, January 28, 2010

Creating Palestine Part 2

SEARCH BLOG: ISRAEL and PALESTINE

Settlements on West Bank to stay, says Netanyahu

MARK WEISS in Jerusalem

ISRAELI PRIME minister Benjamin Netanyahu planted trees at two West Bank settlements yesterday, vowing that the large Jewish settlement blocs would remain part of Israel forever.

In his first visit to the West Bank since becoming prime minister in March, Mr Netanyahu planted trees in the Etzion bloc, south of Bethlehem, and at Ma’ale Adumim, a large West Bank settlement between Jerusalem and Jericho.

“Our message is clear: We are planting trees here and we are here to stay,” he said, after planting a tree ahead of the Jewish festival of Tu B’shvat, the New Year for Trees.

The prime minister said there was a national consensus that these areas were “an integral part of Israel” and this position was “slowly permeating the international community.” An aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas criticised the tree-planting as undermining peace efforts.

Read more....

Last June, this post appeared here: Creating Palestine.

The West Bank may serve as a general geography for any future Palestine, but there may be some territorial concession to Israel to swing that deal. Finally, the Gaza Strip is wholly untenable as part of a new Palestine. It is isolated between two forces that have little love for a Palestinian presence: Israel and Egypt. [map source]

It is likely that Gaza will have to become part of Israel and that the present occupants will have to be resettled into the West Bank or agree to Israeli rule. Israel would probably prefer that the Palestinians in Gaza move out. There may be a remote possibility that an agreement can be worked out with Egypt to create a "neutral zone" administered by Egypt with Israeli military rights.

The Golan Heights will probably remain as Israeli-occupied and a separate agreement worked out at some future point when Arab and Iranian actions show Israel that any agreement can be trusted. This would include a repudiation of the "destruction of Israel" mantra by the Palestinians and Iranians.
It may be that Netanyahu is beginning the negotiating dance.

2012 IS GETTING CLOSER

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Monday, January 11, 2010

The Great Wall Of Israel

SEARCH BLOG: ISRAEL

It worked for China.

On Sunday, Mr Netanyahu said he had approved the construction of sections of barrier that would block the main infiltration routes along the 266km (166-mile) frontier, and the installation of advanced surveillance equipment.

The project is set to cost $270m and take two years to complete.

...

Egypt is meanwhile building an underground barrier along its border with Gaza to stem the smuggling of weapons through tunnels.

Full story...

Interesting... you'll take the high road and I'll take the low road....

Isn't there something like that going on in Arizona? Something like that....


Maybe like our airport security, we should ask the Israelis how it should be done.

2012 IS GETTING CLOSER

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Tuesday, September 08, 2009

Preparing For Palestine

SEARCH BLOG: PALESTINE

About 3 months ago, I wrote about "creating Palestine" and the possible geographic dance that would take place. It looks as if Israel is preparing for that day:

Israel approves settlement plans

A bulldozer clears rocks at the construction site of new housing units in the Israeli settlement of Har Homa, East Jerusalem
The US claims Israeli settlement is a major obstacle to peace talks

The Israeli cabinet has approved plans by PM Benjamin Netanyahu to build hundreds of new homes in the West Bank, despite strong US opposition.

Israeli media reports suggest that up to 700 apartments could be built in Jewish settlements.

On Friday, the US urged its ally to abandon its West Bank construction agenda, for the sake of reviving Middle East peace talks.

A Hamas spokesman has said President Obama has "failed" over the issue.

Read more....

As I wrote back then, "When one looks at Israel and Palestinian-occupied territories, there is a very similar situation that is unlikely to be the solution in President Obama's speech."

President Obama and his surrogate, Hillary Clinton, have demonstrated time and again that they have little grasp of how to deal with both our enemies and our friends.

Unfortunately, that's what happens when you have left-wing ideologues running our government.

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Sunday, June 07, 2009

Creating Palestine

SEARCH BLOG: MIDDLE EAST

President Obama's give-and-take speech in Cairo brought to mind a situation that somewhat parallels the Israeli-Palestinian issues... the partitioning of British India into India, West Pakistan and East Pakistan plus additional territories to the east. The portion of Pakistan known as East Pakistan split politically from West Pakistan to form Bangladesh. It was geographically untenable to have one political entity split by a hostile nation, India. [maps source]

When one looks at Israel and Palestinian-occupied territories, there is a very similar situation that is unlikely to be the solution in President Obama's speech. The Golan Heights is likely to become part of Syria in any long-term solution... or perhaps split in half to provide Israel some security from bombardment from that vantage point. The West Bank may serve as a general geography for any future Palestine, but there may be some territorial cessession to Israel to swing that deal. Finally, the Gaza Strip is wholly untenable as part of a new Palestine. It is isolated between two forces that have little love for a Palestinian presence: Israel and Egypt. [map source]

It is likely that Gaza will have to become part of Israel and that the present occupants will have to be resettled into the West Bank or agree to Israeli rule. Israel would probably prefer that the Palestinians in Gaza move out. There may be a remote possibility that an agreement can be worked out with Egypt to create a "neutral zone" administered by Egypt with Israeli military rights.

The Golan Heights will probably remain as Israeli-occupied and a separate agreement worked out at some future point when Arab and Iranian actions show Israel that any agreement can be trusted. This would include a repudiation of the "destruction of Israel" mantra by the Palestinians and Iranians.

All of this would require significant "give and take." And even if all of this happened, any subsequent attacks on Israel from Palestine or any other Middle East country would be sure to dramatically change the political geography again.

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Sunday, January 11, 2009

Death To Israel Chicago Style

SEARCH BLOG: ISRAEL

Brave Palestinian sympathizers attacked the infidels last night.

Vandals Deface 3 Chicago Synagogues-- "Death to Israel" Painted on Walls

Leftists or Islamists defaced 3 synagogues in Chicago Saturday night.

Two North Side synagogues and one in Lincolnwood were vandalized early Saturday. (Scott Stewart/Sun-Times)

The vandals were caught on tape spray-painting the buildings at 4 in the morning.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported:

Vandals spray-painted the words “Death to Israel’’ on two synagogues and a Jewish school early Saturday in three separate incidents police say could be linked and are being investigated as hate crimes.

In each case, the vandals — at times donning masks — used orange-colored paint, also shattering glass windows with bricks and rocks at two of the buildings.

A witness and security cameras identified the perpetrators as two men.

Moshe Perlstein, rabbi at Lubavitch Mesivta of Chicago, said cameras captured video of the men damaging his rabbinical school at 2756 W. Morse starting at around 4:40 a.m. The footage shows one man spray-painting the side of the building while the other ran around to the front and threw rocks at the front door, breaking a glass window, he said. The video has been turned over to police.

Similar graffiti was found at Anshe Motele Congregation, 6526 N. California, rabbi Alan Abramson said.

Lincolnwood police said vandals also scrawled “Death to Israel’’ and “Free Palestine’’ on the outside walls of Lincolnwood Jewish Congregation, 7117 N. Crawford. Mitchell Sandler, past president of the congregation, said they threw at least two bricks at the front doors, damaging four windows.
Infidel Bloggers Alliance has more on the vandalism.

FOX News is playing it safe calling the attacks "possible" hate crimes.
They would have done it during the day, but they didn't have any women or children to form a "human shield."

Certain Illinois politicians will talk about "diversity" and the need to understand....
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Wednesday, January 23, 2008

It's The Stupid Economy

SEARCH BLOG: ECONOMY

We don't hear much about Iraq anymore. Sure, there is the occasional story about some nut who blows himself up and takes a bunch of school kids with him in the name of Allah. But our 8-week attention span has now shifted to the R-word.

After the Asian markets dropped like a rock, the Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke, took quick action [after dragging an anchor for 6 months] and lower the funds rate to 3.5%. The result: U.S. stocks dropped like a rock and the world forgot about Iraq or Palestine or some guy living in a cave making home videos.

Early this month before the stuff hit the fan, I asked if history would repeat itself and the economy become the center of the political campaign for a certain senator from New York. Well, duh!

Oh, the market today? Well, it's almost 10:00 AM and



It is the stupid economy.

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Monday, July 16, 2007

Iraq - What's To Be Done

SEARCH BLOG: IRAQ

I've had the opportunity to talk with a couple of Iraqi expatriates who live in the U.S., but have family in the Baghdad area.

They each have their own opinion about what should be done there [not necessarily agreement], but both are adamant that the U.S. must maintain a troop presence or there will be unbelievable killing and cruelty following a quick withdrawal. They wanted to know what I thought would happen if the Democrats took the White House.

So, I asked a couple of questions. How long did the U.S. keep troops in Germany after WWII? [hint: 60+ years] How long did the U.S. keep troops in Korea after the Korean war? [hint: 50+ years]

I believe that despite the political rhetoric from the Democrats, they know that if they withdrew U.S. troops and it was followed by a bloodbath in Iraq and escalated terrorism elsewhere... including the U.S. ... that they would be totally discredited regarding anything to do with anti-terrorism and national security.

In fact, I think some Republicans may secretly wish for Hillary to become president knowing it would be a disastrous no-win situation for her. If she keeps troops in, but is not effective in ending the conflict, she will alienate her own party. If she withdraws troops quickly and all hell breaks loose in Iraq, she will be seen as the president who was soft on terror. What she won't do is be aggressive in going after the people who are causing the problems because that would be too much like George Bush.
Then I asked the Iraqi expatriates what their solutions were.
One said to carpet bomb any area where there were terrorists. I pointed out that was rather drastic since many innocent people would be killed. He answered that they will be killed anyway. I believe his frustration was showing through clearly.

The other was not ready to answer, so I have an open invitation to publish that person's position here. Of course, it will have to be done with strict anonymity to protect family members still in Iraq.
My own feeling is this: the "insurgents" are largely financed, supported, or manned by Iran, Syria, and Palestine [sure, that nebulous al Qaeda, too]. We already know that Iran has training bases and supplies munitions.

It is time to move the battleground with specific actions using nothing more than cruise missiles... no troops:
  • Act against specific targets in Iran and Syria where support actions for "insurgents" have been verified... no warnings necessary since enough has been said already.
  • Let Iran know that if they do not act to remove "insurgents" who are attacking civilians in Iraq, their own cities will be subject to actions that will cripple their infrastructure... specifically, I would advocate the use of small EMP devices that destroy all electrical and electronic devices in an area without harming people. The number of such devices used would depend on the continuation or cessation of "insurgent" attacks on the Iraqi population. The targets would be areas where Iranian and Syrian government facilities are concentrated.
  • Let Syria know that they will be next if they do not cease supplying sanctuary and weapons.
I know, I know... we can't do that! Just because Iran is supplying training and weapons for those who are killing U.S. soldiers, we can't attack them. That would be... would be... un-State Department! Just because Syria is providing "insurgents" weapons and sanctuary from which to move in an out of Iraq, we can't attack them. That would be... would be... un-UN!

Okay, never mind. Let's let Hillary figure it out... sure.

Meanwhile, I'll wait to hear from those Iraqi expatriates.

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Saturday, November 25, 2006

Middle East Solutions - Outside The Box

SEARCH BLOG: MIDDLE EAST

I recently sent the following to a prominent Democrat from the Clinton administration:

Your recent blog post about Iraq and Sen. McCain certainly drew great interest judging by the number of comments. I was not surprised that there was no mention about the role that Iran is and will be playing in Iraqi politics and conflict for the foreseeable future.

Perhaps there is one opportunity that has not been explored by either Democrats or Republicans: normalizing relations with Iran. Certainly that would be an extremely difficult and problematic effort, but the reality of the Middle East is that Iran is the hub of politics and the greatest military power next to the U.S. in that area. Recognizing Iran's interest in any political solution in Iraq is paramount and necessary before any lasting political and military solution can be realized. Obviously, it is politically incorrect to say this in Washington, but something that a professor from a California university could say to some influential colleagues in Washington.

The military reality is that no nation on earth can successfully challenge the U.S. in warfare. The reality also is that the U.S. military cannot establish peace and democracy in any nation that does not want it badly enough... because the military is not organized nor equipped to do that... except at extraordinary cost.
Just something to think about....

*****
In a less serious vein...

My wife is extremely ... extremely ... interested in politics. The television is one stream of political commentary after another. I have to seek respite at my computer to avoid it. But, I have to admit, she keeps our discussions interesting.

Recently, she offered up her own solution to the Middle East... and threw in our "immigration crisis" to boot. To wit: give a 150 mile wide strip of land along the border with Mexico... stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico... to Israel as a replacement "homeland". Let Lebanon, Jordan, and Palestine split up the old Israel.

Why does she believe this is a good solution? Well, the Muslims will be happy to get back the land that the Israelis "stole" (let's not get into 3,000 years of history). The Israelis get a new homeland (New Israel?) that is removed from the traditional enemies. The U.S. gets a really effective solution to its illegal immigration problem.

What about the holy sites... Jerusalem... the Wailing Wall...? Her solution is... let Disney build some replicas... better than the original... with rides for making money. Okay, that is a bit of a stretch for something that is a real stretch.

*****
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Friday, January 27, 2006

Ethnic Divisiveness - Hamas Wins... Maybe

Fatah went Fffttt.

Hamas hammered Abbas.

Apparently "moderate" and "corrupt" was not a satisfactory combination for the Palestine people. Now they get to see what the more "disciplined" Hamas can do.

There is all kind of speculation about what will happen:

  • Israel will cut off discussions with Palestine
  • U.S. will cut off discussions with Palestine
  • Palestine will become the new Iraq and Syria
  • Peace is dead
I rather think that most realities will pretty much stay the same.
  • Peace will mean that hostilities continue, but armies will not roll through neighboring lands
  • Discussions will continue, but pronouncements will be less optimistic
  • Palestine will continue to be a dangerous and fragmented sandlot
  • Israel will continue to be the target of Islamic hatred for showing the world that a Middle Eastern nation can still be truly democratic and secular and successful

Monday, November 15, 2004

Politics: Same Planet... Different World

Yesterday, I posted a link to a story about a girl who was "married" off at the age of nine by her family to a middle-aged ex-Taliban pervert who abused her mercilessly... yet he was supported and defended by the Islamic-fundamentalist "Supreme Court".

In the U.S., he would have been sent to prison and introduced to some very large, mean, gentlemen who would have "instructed" him on the error of his ways.

--------------------------

This planet is home to different worlds... different realities... than most of us in America can accept as rational... yet their existence and continuation confront our senses and sensibilities daily:

  • In Iraq and Palestine, the territorial imperative is in full play.
  • In India, Brazil, Europe, Africa and elsewhere, slavery ... labor and sexual... continues unabated.
  • Dictators rule their countries more wickedly than foreign occupiers and threaten the world with nuclear insanity.
The list seems endless... and may well be. Meanwhile, we concern ourselves with whether or not the President has a "mandate" or not.

Perhaps it is time for us to remember that our world is really not that bad... given the other worlds we might live in.


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There is always an easy solution to every human problem—neat, plausible, and wrong.
Henry Louis Mencken (1880–1956)
“The Divine Afflatus,” A Mencken Chrestomathy, chapter 25, p. 443 (1949)
... and one could add "not all human problems really are."
It was beautiful and simple, as truly great swindles are.
- O. Henry
... The Government is on course for an embarrassing showdown with the European Union, business groups and environmental charities after refusing to guarantee that billions of pounds of revenue it stands to earn from carbon-permit trading will be spent on combating climate change.
The Independent (UK)

Tracking Interest Rates

Tracking Interest Rates

FEDERAL RESERVE & HOUSING

SEARCH BLOG: FEDERAL RESERVE for full versions... or use the Blog Archive pulldown menu.

February 3, 2006
Go back to 1999-2000 and see what the Fed did. They are following the same pattern for 2005-06. If it ain't broke, the Fed will fix it... and good!
August 29, 2006 The Federal Reserve always acts on old information... and is the only cause of U.S. recessions.
December 5, 2006 Last spring I wrote about what I saw to be a sharp downturn in the economy in the "rustbelt" states, particularly Michigan.
March 28, 2007
The Federal Reserve sees no need to cut interest rates in the light of adverse recent economic data, Ben Bernanke said on Wednesday.
The Fed chairman said ”to date, the incoming data have supported the view that the current stance of policy is likely to foster sustainable economic growth and a gradual ebbing in core inflation”.

July 21, 2007 My guess is that if there is an interest rate change, a cut is more likely than an increase. The key variables to be watching at this point are real estate prices and the inventory of unsold homes.
August 11, 2007 I suspect that within 6 months the Federal Reserve will be forced to lower interest rates before housing becomes a black hole.
September 11, 2007 It only means that the overall process has flaws guaranteeing it will be slow in responding to changes in the economy... and tend to over-react as a result.
September 18, 2007 I think a 4% rate is really what is needed to turn the economy back on the right course. The rate may not get there, but more cuts will be needed with employment rates down and foreclosure rates up.
October 25, 2007 How long will it be before I will be able to write: "The Federal Reserve lowered its lending rate to 4% in response to the collapse of the U.S. housing market and massive numbers of foreclosures that threaten the banking and mortgage sectors."
November 28, 2007 FED VICE CHAIRMAN DONALD KOHN
"Should the elevated turbulence persist, it would increase the possibility of further tightening in financial conditions for households and businesses," he said.

"Uncertainties about the economic outlook are unusually high right now," he said. "These uncertainties require flexible and pragmatic policymaking -- nimble is the adjective I used a few weeks ago."
http://www.reuters.com/

December 11, 2007 Somehow the Fed misses the obvious.
fed_rate_moves_425_small.gif
[Image from: CNNMoney.com]
December 13, 2007 [from The Christian Science Monitor]
"The odds of a recession are now above 50 percent," says Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Economy.com. "We are right on the edge of a recession in part because of the Fed's reluctance to reduce interest rates more aggressively." [see my comments of September 11]
January 7, 2008 The real problem now is that consumers can't rescue the economy and manufacturing, which is already weakening, will continue to weaken. We've gutted the forces that could avoid a downturn. The question is not whether there will be a recession, but can it be dampened sufficiently so that it is very short.
January 11, 2008 This is death by a thousand cuts.
January 13, 2008 [N.Y. Times]
“The question is not whether we will have a recession, but how deep and prolonged it will be,” said David Rosenberg, the chief North American economist at Merrill Lynch. “Even if the Fed’s moves are going to work, it will not show up until the later part of 2008 or 2009.”
January 17, 2008 A few days ago, Anna Schwartz, nonagenarian economist, implicated the Federal Reserve as the cause of the present lending crisis [from the Telegraph - UK]:
The high priestess of US monetarism - a revered figure at the Fed - says the central bank is itself the chief cause of the credit bubble, and now seems stunned as the consequences of its own actions engulf the financial system. "The new group at the Fed is not equal to the problem that faces it," she says, daring to utter a thought that fellow critics mostly utter sotto voce.
January 22, 2008 The cut has become infected and a limb is in danger. Ben Bernanke is panicking and the Fed has its emergency triage team cutting rates... this time by 3/4%. ...

What should the Federal Reserve do now? Step back... and don't be so anxious to raise rates at the first sign of economic improvement.
Individuals and businesses need stability in their financial cost structures so that they can plan effectively and keep their ships afloat. Wildly fluctuating rates... regardless of what the absolute levels are... create problems. Either too much spending or too much fear. It's just not that difficult to comprehend. Why has it been so difficult for the Fed?

About Me

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Michigan, United States
Air Force (SAC) captain 1968-72. Retired after 35 years of business and logistical planning, including running a small business. Two sons with advanced degrees; one with a business and pre-law degree. Beautiful wife who has put up with me for 4 decades. Education: B.A. (Sociology major; minors in philosopy, English literature, and German) M.S. Operations Management (like a mixture of an MBA with logistical planning)