High-Level U

Deal Or No Deal: John Kerry’s Historic Diplomatic “Mistake” Proves That Obama Does Not Want Peace

When it comes to diplomacy, Russia is playing chess, Syria is playing checkers and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry is playing tiddlywinks. On Monday, Kerry said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad could avoid having his country bombed into oblivion by turning over "every single bit of his chemical weapons to the international community in the next week." Of course Kerry just assumed that Assad would never do such a thing, but the Russians immediately pounced on his statement. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov quickly announced that Russia would encourage Syria to turn over their chemical weapons to international control in exchange for a guarantee that the U.S. will not attack, and subsequently Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem stated that his government was prepared for "full cooperation with Russia to remove any pretext for aggression." Later on Monday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon indicated that he is thinking about asking the UN Security Council to support such a deal. (Read More....)

Precious Little Girl Dismembered While She Is Still Alive By Obama’s Psychotic Syrian Rebels

Should the United States be allied with radical Islamic jihadists that dismember little girls while they are still alive? That question sounds ridiculously absurd, but that is precisely what Barack Obama is proposing. Obama wants the United States to go to war so that it will be easier for al-Qaeda Christian killers to take over Syria. What you are about to read should absolutely shock you. Please send it out to your friends and share it everywhere that you can. If America willingly sides with psychotic, murderous savages that behead little children, it will bring a curse upon our nation. It is imperative that the American people be told the truth about this. (Read More.....)

The UN Has Had Evidence That Syrian Rebels Have Been Using Chemical Weapons Since May

Did you know that the United Nations has had evidence that the Syrian rebels have been using sarin gas against Syrian government forces since May? This was reported by Reuters and other major news organizations around the world, but there has been an almost total blackout of this information by the big corporate news outlets in the United States. So why are they keeping the truth from us? What you are about to read might really surprise you. The Syrian rebels have been caught red-handed with sarin gas in their possession, the UN has had evidence that the rebels have been using sarin gas for several months, and the Syrian rebels have even admitted that they were the ones that caused the deadly gas attack that the U.S. government is using as justification to attack Syria. Please share this article with as many people as you can, because it is absolutely imperative that we get (Read More....)

The Number Of Private Sector Jobs Fell By 278,000 Last Month But The Economy Is Getting Better?

Have you heard about the "wonderful" employment numbers that were just released? Last month, the unemployment rate declined to 7.3 percent. Somehow this happened even though the percentage of working age Americans with a job actually declined and the number of private sector workers fell by 278,000. So how did the federal government magically produce a drop in the unemployment rate even though less people have jobs? Well, they did it by pretending that more than half a million Americans "dropped out of the labor force" last month. If the government is to be believed, the number of Americans that want to work dropped by an astounding 516,000 in a single month even though the population of our country is constantly increasing. The federal government continues to feed us absolutely absurd numbers month after month, and at this point "the official unemployment rate" is essentially meaningless. (Read More....)

US, Russian Naval Deployment Near Syria - Update

Last week we presented the most recent map of US and Russian naval deployments in the Mediterranean surrounding Syria. Over the weekend, things appear to have heated up once more as yet more ships - mostly of Russian origin - arrive in what is rapidly becoming a formation in search of the tiniest provocation.

As Popular Opposition To Syrian Attack Grows; Obama "Skeptical", Reid Delays Vote & Assad Likens Obama To Bush

The last hour has seen a sudden escalation in the Syrian-Strike-Nado. Following earlier comments from Hillary Clinton, President Obama also confirmed the Russian offer on Syria is "potentially positive" though "skeptical" that it will be followed through on. Harry Reid then hits the tape with news of a delay in the 'test vote' - hardly a signal of resounding support. Then Assad, via his twitter account, compares Obama to Bush among other things. And then finally, Obama announces he has not made a decision on next steps if Congress doesn't support military strikes. Gold is modestly higher, oil slightly lower. Equities remain happy with the uncertainty and are extending gains. In the meantime, Reuters finds that 63% of Americans now oppose intervening in Syria.

Victim of 'I hate white people' rampage dies... { Typical uncivilized nigger animals … ‘On Wednesday, a man shouting that he “hated white people” punched victim Jeffrey Babbitt — who is white — in the face, witnesses said, causing him to fall and strike his head on the ground.Lashawn Marten, 31, who is black, “made statements to the effect that I’m going to punch the first white man that I see,” said NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly.Brooklyn resident Jeffrey Babbitt died at Bellevue Hospital after a seemingly unprovoked attack at Union Square. (Image: Handout via Newsday)After punching Babbitt, Marten allegedly attacked two other men who came to Babbitt’s aid, police said. Police were investigating the incident as a possible hate crime.Paramedics took Babbitt to Bellevue Hospital, where he lapsed into a coma and was pronounced brain-dead by doctors.’… }

Goldman Pours Cold Water On The Exuberance Of European PMIs

Always on the look-out for a silver-lining, the world's commission-taking asset managers are flooding into the new cleanest dirty shirt of European stocks (the more beaten-down, the better) - apparently on the basis of the exuberance in surging PMIs. Aside from the fact Draghi himself already poured cold-water on people's belief in the strength of the European recovery last week, and our note this weekend on the 'roughness' of PMI survey "soft" data, investors remain unmoved and momentum has taken over now. However, as Goldman explains some of the optimism on the basis of recent manufacturing PMIs may not square with evidence of a structural break in the link between the PMIs and growth. While a reading of 50 may in pre-crisis days have indicated positive growth on the periphery, it today may only indicate flat (or even negative) growth, as the external financing constraint prevents better sentiment from translating into activity.

Guest Post: On Syria: Don't Take Regime Change Off The Table

Two weeks ago, the Syrian regime reportedly ordered the use of chemical weapons, which U.S. sources state killed over 1400 people. Over one year ago, President Obama declared that any movement or use of chemical weapons would cross a “redline.” Right from the start, officials in the Obama White House assured the public that any decision to use force against Syria would not be designed to impose regime change. Why would the administration take such an option off the table? As strategists and policymakers have understood since time immemorial, any decision to use military force must be guided by a strategy. If Washington’s strategy is to stop Assad from using chemical weapons, demonstrate that America is committed to enforcing this international norm, and undermine states that support such atrocious actions, regime change remains the critical instrument for the United States. In fact, all other options are highly susceptible to failure. In the end, the failure to put the instrument of regime change on the table demonstrates a lack of resolve, commitment, or weakness—all of which will be interpreted by friend and foe alike as acquiescence in the face of states using chemical weapons.

Visualizing The (High) Cost Of Living In New York City

The South Texas city of Harlingen is the cheapest place in the U.S. to live, according to the sixth annual cost of living index, a study conducted by the Council for Community and Economic Research. By contrast, the cost of living in Manhattan, one of the most expensive places to live in the world, is almost three times that of Harlingen. If someone with an annual income of $60,000 in Manhattan moved to Harlingen, she’d need to make just $21,768 a year to maintain her standard of living.

How Has This Not Led To Outright Revolution Yet?

These days, you could put ‘safety and security’ in front of just about anything and get people to readily comply. Well, OK. After all, who is against ‘safety and security’? Only criminal terrorists, apparently. This is now the easiest way for governments to exact their agendas... whether it’s invading new countries, monitoring all Internet activity worldwide, or bailing out the big banks at taxpayer expense. Apparently the citizenry has become so scared that we collectively lay down and let governments walk all over us. At this point, the Founding Fathers’ list of grievances nearly pales in comparison to the indignities and injustices to liberty that people suffer today under their government. We’ve been talking about this trend for four years now. This is no longer theory. It’s real. It’s happening. And it’s coming soon to a bankrupt, insolvent nation near you. Have you hit your breaking point yet?

Kerry Tells Lavrov Chemical Disarmament Demand Was "Rhetorical", Not Meant To Be Proposal

Kerry to Syria: I was being rhetorical. We will just bomb you anyway, as soon as we are done gassing you.

Stock Bulls Pleased, Shorts Squeezed, Bond Bulls Teased

With the White House increasing its rhetoric in the face of Russia/Syria headlines and growth-inspired commodities like copper and oil suffering, the meme of the day that today's rally was a combo Asian growth and Syrian 'ease' is bullshit. Simply out, it's just another day in paradise as we noted earlier the 'most-shorted' names in the US equity market were squeezed dramatically higher - the most in 15 months (+2.8%). Interestingly, as the Russell surged to highs of the day, the Dow and S&P diverged lower in the afternoon. Homebuilders were the best choice for this idiocy as they soared 5% from Friday's lows (even as WFC and BAC shut their mortgage departments?) and are now 2% above pre-Kerry levels. Carry-mongers were equity bulls best friends as EURJPY lifted stocks all day and the USD dumped - led by EUR and SEK). Gold and silver flatlined for most of the day along with copper with WTI dumping into the pit close to around $109 (still its highest for this date ever). Treasuries were bid 5bps (belly) to 2bps (long-end). Trannies remain the only major index below pre-Kerry levels. War schmoar...

Less Than 10% Of The House Support Obama: Congressional Support Update

Less than 10% of the House publicly supports President Obama's plan for a military strik on Syria. As Bloomberg notes in this updated visual description of the hill he faces, at least 202 House members currently oppose military action.

July Student And Car Loans Soar As Consumers Continue To Pay Down Credit Cards

There has been much jubilation in recent months over the so-called end of the consumer deleveraging (and implicitly, the start of releveraging) - that key missing link so needed for a truly sustainable, Fed-free recovery. The problem, unfortunately, is that this jubilation has been once again misplaced (read wrong) and following the just released July Consumer Credit data, we know that US consumers continued to pay down their credit cards (i.e., delever) for the second month in a row, reducing total outstanding revolving debt by $1.8 billion, which when added to June's revised $3.7 billion reduction in credit card borrowings, is the biggest two month drop in revolving debt since January 2011. The offset? Same as always: non-revolving i.e., student and car loans, debt soared once more by $12.3 billion this month, representing 118% of the total increase of $10.4 billion (less than the $12.7 billion expected), and down from last month's downward revised $11.9 billion.

How Dare Assad Fight Back!

Paul Joseph Watson | Assad should thank Obama for every humanitarian love bomb that falls on Damascus and beg for more.

“I Hate White People”: Media Downplays Brutal Racial Attack

Kit Daniels | More black-on-white violence largely ignored by the mainstream media.

US Refuses To Admit Checkmate By Russia And Syria, Redirects Purpose Of Military Incursion

zerohedge.com | A false flag in which Tehran attacks Israel is coming any second.

Tech Co. Pressure FISA Court to Release More Detailed Reports on Govt Data Requests

Julie Wilson | Tech companies form alliance fighting for more transparency.

Bolton: Going to Congress on Syria Demonstrates Weakness

Kurt Nimmo | Obama has presented “a real opportunity” for al-Qaeda and the enemies of America.

Dyess Refuses to Deny Secret Nuke Transfer

Anthony Gucciardi | Dyess officially responds to secret nuke transfer, refuses to deny.

Kidnapped Teacher: Rebels Said Assad Not Behind Chemical Weapons Attack

Obama In Desperate Propaganda Push For Attack On Syria

Paul Joseph Watson | President will conduct six television interviews in bid to beat war drums.

CNBC | That “47 percent” quote that helped sink Mitt Romney’s presidential hopes? Better make it 43%.

Michael Snyder | Have you heard about the “wonderful” employment numbers that were just released?

Obama: Strike ‘Absolutely’ on Hold if Syria Abandons Chemical Weapons

ABC News | “I consider this a modestly positive development,” Obama told ABC News.

Deal Or No Deal: John Kerry’s Historic Diplomatic “Mistake” Proves That Obama Does Not Want Peace

Michael Snyder | Do you know what they call such a move in chess? Checkmate.

How Dare Assad Fight Back!

Paul Joseph Watson | Assad should thank Obama for every humanitarian love bomb that falls on Damascus and beg for more.

White House Insists It Can Bomb Syria Without Congressional Approval

The Hill | The White House insisted Monday that it was legally able to launch a strike on Syria without congressional approval.

US Official: Kerry’s Syria Red Line a “Major Goof”

Iraq 2.0: State Department: Assad “Cannot be trusted to turn over chemical weapons”

Syria Accepts Russian Offer to Give Up Chemical Weapons

RT | Remember when Gaddafi gave up his chemical weapons thinking it would protect him from a US attack?

Kidnapped Teacher: Rebels Said Assad Not Behind Chemical Weapons Attack

CNN Poll: 71% Oppose Attack on Syria if Congress Says No

CNN | More than seven in 10 say such a strike would not achieve significant goals for the U.S.

Obama in Desperate Propaganda Push For Attack on Syria

Paul Joseph Watson | President will conduct six television interviews in bid to beat war drums.

Zero Hedge | There was no discussion of this particular number and for good reason.

Sam Ro | There is always the possibility that some “black swan” event or an escalation of geopolitical tension causes uncertainty to spike ultimately affecting economic forecasts.

Michael Snyder | Have you heard about the “wonderful” employment numbers that were just released?

Zero Hedge | Half Of Private Pension Funds were confiscated by polish government to “Cut” Sovereign Debt Load.

Shorts Are Having Their Worst Day In 15 Months

It wouldn't be the US equity market if the worst-of-the-worst companies were not getting bid to the moon. With all the event risk ahead, those who suggest that "stocks dont like uncertainty," appear to be talking anally once again. Today's best day in stocks in 2 months is driven not just by EURJPY carry-mongers, but by the largest short-squeeze in US markets in 15 months. Why, we hear you ask? Why not... Just ask the homebuilders - which are up a new normal 5% from Friday's open.

Hillary Speaks: "There Should Be A Response By The US" - Live Webcast

We were wondering if Hillary Clinton, who back in June 2012 made the first demand for a regime change in Syria, had disappeared to. We now know the answer:

Use of chemical weapons by Syria’s Assad “violates a universal norm,” warrants a “strong response from the international community led by the United States,” former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton says at White House event.
Immediate surrender of Syria’s weapons “would be an important step,” Clinton says; Russian proposal on weapons “can’t be another excuse for delay, for obstruction”

Then again, what difference does it make, if the US will get the "support" for another war of aggression? The decision in Saudi Arabia has been made long ago. And what difference does it make if Hillary received hundreds of thousands worth of expensive Saudi jewerly. Seriously.

Senate To Hold Procedural Vote On Syria This Wednesday, Accompanied By Peak Hyperbolic Rhetoric

So much for the revised US plans, now revealed to have been about overthrowing Assad all along, to be derailed by the Syrian attempt to appease the aggressor.

More importantly, DE Shaw's headline algo now appears to have been finally recalibrated to respond to "moar woar" flashing red headlines as bullish for confidence, represented as always in the New Normal, by the S&P as stocks just hit new intraday highs on the news.

Spot The Intraday (Lack Of) Difference

Today's equity market exuberance is being pitched as due to to Asian strength... We hate to burst that bubble but... The Nikkei 225 actually fell after GDP was released; JGBs rallied (well that doesn't fit with the meme of Japanese growth); Japanese GDP missed expectations (oops); Japanese trade balance was the 3rd worst on record; Chinese imports missed expectations (as copper demand fell since liquidity has eased and less need for cash-for-copper deals). So what is the catalyst for today's S&P 500 rally... behold the EURJPY cross rate...

Fear Increases Productivity and the Old Posted by: Pivotfarm Post date: 09/07/2013 - We live in a throw-away world where we don’t repair and as soon as things start looking a bit shabby round the edges and curled up as if they were sandwiches left over from the night before, with the...

Who Is Going To Buy Our Debt If This War Causes China, Russia And The Rest Of The World To Turn On Us?

Can the U.S. really afford to greatly anger the rest of the world when they are the ones that are paying our bills? What is going to happen if China, Russia and many other large nations stop buying our debt and start rapidly dumping U.S. debt that they already own? If the United States is not very careful, it is going to pay a tremendous economic price for taking military action in Syria. At this point, survey after survey has shown that the American people are overwhelmingly against an attack on Syria, people around the globe are overwhelmingly against an attack on Syria, and it looks like the U.S. Congress is even going to reject it. But Barack Obama is not backing down. In fact, ABC News is reporting that plans are now being made for a "significantly larger" strike on Syria than most experts had expected. (Read More....)

INTeRNaTioNaL LaW 101... Posted by: williambanzai7 Post date: 09/06/2013 - Someone has to put this front and center and that someone is me...

INTeRNaTioNaL LaW 101...

Just a few weeks ago, that buffoon Kerry said it is remotely possible this might end in Pakistan at some unspexcified time in the future...

And let us not forget this piece of work, who Holder literally petitioned to pardon from war crimes liability two weeks ago.

The Fed Has Wasted Trillions and the US Remains in Depression Posted by: Phoenix Capital... Post date: 09/06/2013 - The facts are now becoming abundantly clear, that the forecast we’ve maintained for well over two years has been validated: the US is in a DE-pression and both Washington and the Federal...

Putin presses US Congress over Syria, says Kerry lied

(Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday the U.S. Congress had no right to approve the use of force against Syria without a decision from the U.N. Security Council, and that doing so would be an "act of aggression".

He said "anything that is outside the U.N. Security Council is aggression, except self-defense. Now what Congress and the U.S. Senate are doing in essence is legitimizing aggression. This is inadmissible in principle."

In remarks that could raise tension further before he hosts President Barack Obama and other G20 leaders on Thursday, Putin also said U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry lied to Congress about the militant group al Qaeda's role in the Syrian conflict.

"They lie beautifully, of course. I saw debates in Congress. A congressman asks Mr Kerry: 'Is al Qaeda there?' He says: 'No, I am telling you responsibly that it is not'," Putin said at a meeting of his human rights council in the Kremlin.

"Al Qaeda units are the main military echelon, and they know this," he said, referring to the United States. "It was unpleasant and surprising for me - we talk to them, we proceed from the assumption that they are decent people. But he is lying and knows he is lying. It's sad."

In an exchange with a senator, Kerry was asked whether it was "basically true" that the Syrian opposition had "become more infiltrated by al Qaeda over time. Kerry said: "No, that is actually basically not true. It's basically incorrect".

In another sign of tension, the Russian Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying that since August 31, the U.S. State Department had repeatedly asked for a telephone call between Kerry and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov but Kerry had been unavailable and declined to set a time for the call.

(Reporting by Darya Korsunskaya,; Writing by Steve Gutterman, Editing by Timothy Heritage)

PoLiSH PaRTiTIONS...

We Have Officially Jumped The Shark: Al-Arabiya Reports Another "Gas Attack" By Syrian Regime

SYRIA GOVT FORCES SHELL QABUN, DAMASCUS WITH GAS: AL-ARABIYA
AL-ARABIYA CITES UNIDENTIFIED ACTIVISTS - so the same CIA-trained, al Qaeda funded, Qatari mercenaries?

Actually it is surprising: the odds were today's false flag would take place in Iran to get the Israel card in play. Apparently nobody was dumb enough to assume the government would go with two false flags in a row in the same place. And now bring on the 1000 YouTube clips of "undisputed proof."

McJiHaD U.S.A... Posted by : williambanzai7 Post date: 09/05/2013 - But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll...And Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool--you bet that Tommy sees!

McJiHaD U.S.A...

PETRAEUS: MILITARY ACTION IN (US)A 'NECESSARY' { Talk about a discredited ‘think-tanker’ … what contracts/fund flows directly/indirectly flow his way vis-à-vis the failed military industrial complex so warned against by the great but underrated President General Eisenhower. The reality is that military action is necessary to staunch the nigger-crime epidemic in niggerland usa! How pathetic betrayus, he’s become. What does he know? Not much, even less he can add! No talent … no integrity … no honor … no intelligence … no smarts! }

Syria: A Vote Of No-Confidence In The President

Jon Rappoport | The House considers it may not vote at all in order to spare Obama embarrassment.

Amash: Boehner’s Decision To Back Obama On Syria Was A Mistake

The Hill | Amash says more than 95 percent of his constituents are opposed to military action.

Syrian Rebels Say They’ll Pounce On Assad’s Forces If U.S. Attacks

Wouldn’t It Be Something If We Had A President Who Believed In Liberty?

Tech Dirt | The public has been conditioned into choosing the illusion of safety over liberty.

Naval Forces Face Each Other Off Syrian Shores

Unintended Consequences From Potential Syrian Attack Continue To Grow

Fox News Covers Infowars Story About Rebel Admitting To Using Chemical Weapons

Paul Joseph Watson | Fox News covered an Infowars exclusive story featuring a Syrian rebel admitting to using chemical weapons.

Who Is Going To Buy Our Debt If This War Causes China, Russia And The Rest Of The World To Turn On Us?

Michael Snyder | Can the U.S. really afford to greatly anger the rest of the world when they are the ones that are paying our bills?

Bloomberg | Unemployment rate declining because more people stopped looking for work.

Amash: Boehner’s Decision to Back Obama On Syria Was A Mistake

The Hill | Amash says more than 95 percent of his constituents are opposed to military action.

Syrian Rebels Say They’ll Pounce On Assad’s Forces If U.S. Attacks

Wouldn’t It Be Something If We Had A President Who Believed In Liberty?

Tech Dirt | The public has been conditioned into choosing the illusion of safety over liberty.

Naval Forces Face Each Other Off Syrian Shores

Fox News Covers Infowars Story About Rebel Admitting to Using Chemical Weapons

Paul Joseph Watson | Fox News covered an Infowars exclusive story featuring a Syrian rebel admitting to using chemical weapons.

Who Is Going To Buy Our Debt If This War Causes China, Russia And The Rest Of The World To Turn On Us?

Michael Snyder | Can the U.S. really afford to greatly anger the rest of the world when they are the ones that are paying our bills?

High-Level U.S. Intelligence Officers: Syrian Government Didn’t Launch Chemical Weapons

Washington’s Blog | Numerous Intelligence Officials Question Administration’s Claims.

Obama hints he may abandon Syria strike

The Daily Caller | President Barack Obama hinted Friday that he might not strike Syria if Congress rejects his authorization request.

Intelligence Professionals: Assad Not Responsible for Chemical Weapons Attack

Man Calls for John McCain to be Arrested and Tried for Treason During Town Hall

You Tube | A local Prescott man called for John McCain to be arrested and tried for treason.

Zero Hedge | Half Of Private Pension Funds were confiscated by polish government to “Cut” Sovereign Debt Load.

Bloomberg.com | U.S. stocks rose as slower-than-forecast jobs growth eased concern about reductions in Federal Reserve stimulus.

Zero Hedge | The actual implied unemployment rate just rose from 11.2% to 11.4%.

REUTERS-- Shinzo Abe said in Buenos Aires, where Tokyo's victory was announced by the International Olympic Committee, that the [Fukushima] plant is "under control"...

"More people in Fukushima are now likely to have died as a result of health problems and stress related to nuclear evacuation than died in the 2011 quake and tsunami itself, a Mainichi newspaper survey showed on Sunday."

"It is a very good chance for Japan to have a rebirth for further economic development - and at the same time,

"Japanese people are wondering what to do and they are still astray these days."

“This is the substance of the Way of the Samurai: if by setting one's heart right every morning and evening, one is able to live as though his body were already dead, he gains freedom in the Way. His whole life will be without blame, and he will succeed in his calling.”

Mom always said that living by that book never leads to any good and she has been around longer than Shinzo Abe and Kazuo Otsuki.