Friday, June 13, 2014

A Sad Silk Purse

It is just sad!  Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz has estimated the cost of the Iraqi War at more that ONE TRILLION DOLLARS.  In addition, almost five thousand Americans died in that rat-hole.  And, what about the tens of thousands of young Americans still dealing daily with the physical and emotional wounds from that war?

My father was just a young farm boy, when World War II started.  After being drafted and after only 90 days of training, he found himself on a boat headed to Normandy.  Americans were ready to fight in three months.  How is it possible the Iraqis are still not ready to fight -- after a decade of training?  We have done everything we can to help!  In fact, it may have been naive to expect Iraq would not eventually collapse regardless of what we did, unless we had divided the country into thirds when we could?

As grossly insensitive as it seems, it is OK to make money from this tragedy.  The sudden surge in uncertainty will weaken the stock market, but it will not collapse.  Maybe, it will produce the 10% drop I've been hoping for?   Whatever, this too will pass, but it will offer some stock buying opportunities in the meantime!  So, go out and buy a silk purse from that poor, scared sow selling her stocks!