Recommendation: save one ounce of gold for every USD 600 of retirement expenses when measured in current dollars
The parallels between now and late 60's and 70's and the Roman times are intuitively obvious to the most casual of passing observers, only more dire, and the outcome less uncertain.
Wars cost money, printed, borrowed, and confiscated, and wars do not produce anything except more obligations requiring more funding.
The current casualty rate of US troops is not as before; Now it is something 6 wounded to 1 dead, and before it was 3 wounded to 1 dead. Many of the wounded will have to be taken care of for life.
The US military, a finely tuned and precision instrument of policy, is being pounded roughly, grinded down, and wasted; in fact breaking in face of IEDs and AK47s.
A rapidly mobile, high-altitude, long-range, and heavily armed and armored force is singularly not suited for house-to-house and hand-to-hand combat, especially not against folks not afraid to die.
Britain, obligated to first keep the peace in Iraq southern front, and to maintain the peace in Afghanistan, did not budget for a long stay in either location, and is being broken in political will and economic stamina, as Afghanistan reverts to war status, and Iraq southern front opens up to general warfare.
The French and the Germans are refusing to supply needed helicopter transport to the British troops operating in concert. Britain has had to scrounge even for 36 helicopters on off-budget basis, or so I am told.
Britain figured Afghanistan and Iraq wars, along side America forces, were going to be simpler than the Falkland picnic. Britain never budgeted the time or the money for the effort at any rate not equated with fantasy.
When Britain is forced out of either or both theaters of operation, the burden on the USA will increase.
Seeking more volunteers for a hand-to-hand combat war will take all the Mexicans the empire can recruit and promise to feed and house for life when wounded badly.
Taxes will then rise, as financiers see no more upside.
The draft will happen, only a matter of time.
Add on the cost of transportation security that will only grow and become solidly embedded in the budget for all future years, the empire has a whopper coming.
Withdrawing from Iraq and Afghanistan are not real options, as leaving the two as failed states will only cause more troops to be wounded and more money to be sent to money heaven.
So, buy gold, it is still cheap. |
