Hiding in plain sight
There was $580 million of highly suspicious betting on a lower oil price just 15 minutes before Trump announced “talks” with Iran. Talks which Iran denies have even taken place, but before the denial the oil price fell and someone out there made a killing.
The only real explanation is that someone very, very close to Trump is an insider dealer of the most blatant and cynical kind, but then we know that already. The level of corruption by and around this President is unprecedented.
It ranges from obvious back handers and bribes to get favourable business decisions, to obviously fake legal cases which have to be bought off and then investment by foreign nations in Trump family businesses.
The last example has been one of the worst bribes ever, the states which have given Trump’s family billions thought it would buy them support, protection and security.
But Trump doesn’t keep even his corrupt word, the art of the deal is to take all the money and give nothing in return.
What on earth the Gulf states make of Trump’s strange claim that he can “run” the Straight of Hormuz hand in hand with the ayatollahs it is hard to say, except that it is all the evidence they need that they have been sold a pig in a poke and sold it by a ignorant, arrogant fantasist.
Meanwhile they have to wait to see what the exit strategy is for this war, a war that threatens their safety and their whole economic model and over which they have absolutely no say.
Europe feels a similar chagrin after agreeing to pay 10% tariffs in the hope that Trump would honour the North Atlantic Treaty if they did. Not direct corruption but a still a forlorn hope.
I suppose that is the problem with corruption, you can hardly complain that you have been misled, let down or totally shafted.
Who do you complain to? It is not like there is some kind of International Consumers Council which deals with the mis-selling of corruption.
All that can happen is that such governments remember what has happened and pick their next protection racket more carefully, which means never trusting America again.
The real price of such corruption is very very expensive, mainly for the USA.
From Jonty Bloom Media Ltd
Economics, trade and Brexit, not necessarily in that order but the dog always comes first.
Spot on, Jonty. Distance lends perspective on such corruption. And, sadly, in the USA the MSM media (which might expose that corruption to public gaze) has been either bought by Oligarchs and/or (mostly) cowed.
That’s happening in the UK, too. Media independence from oligarchy matters. Time for new management and a new broom at OFCOM
We never hear of these thieves getting justice.