Half Moon Rising

(Half Moon Rising)

The Soviet Union detonated its first nuclear weapon on August 29th, 1949. In a flash, literally, the American nuclear monopoly was ended. The year before, in 1948, a plan called Operation HALF MOON anticipated the use of nuclear weapons in any major conflict with the USSR. When the Soviets conducted their test in 1949, Western planners were faced with first "assured destruction" and, once the Soviet arsenal reached a certain level, all weapons all deliverable to American targets, assured destruction evolved into Mutual Assured Destruction. Operation HALF MOON anticipated these events.


Today, April 2nd, that President Trump has been saying is "Liberation Day." On this day, the United States will impose tariffs on various countries with varying products and varying rates. In the President's mind, this new trade reciprocity will go into effect to equalize what has seen as an imbalance. Trump is always complaining how the U.S. is being mis-treated and has been for years. This Liberation Day is an attempt to reverse that trend.


However, is there not the risk of a HALF MOON inspired "mutual assured destruction ?" Targeted nations are promising their own retaliation, imposing levies on American products. If that situation persists for any length of time, there will be no recovery on Wall Street, inflation will not moderate and there could be a recession.


It has been President Trump's assertion that the effects of the levies will compel targeted countries would compromise before any real damage. That being said, the real question is less the effect on other countries and what positive aspects tariffs hold for this country. Trillions of dollars get raised, domestic industries are getting protected. Can one remember when Detroit was the manufacturing center it was ?


President Trump will be describing details this afternoon. Exactly what configuration will be announced remains to be seen. Will this be a Day of Liberation ? Or light from a half moon ?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

TEQUILA !

(TEQUILA !) Happy Cinco de Mayo or May 5th. One can hope that a lot of you out there are awash in inebriation, seeking to mainline tequila shots or enjoying a nice margarita on the patio. Or, in other words, relax. Take a breath. De-compress. May 5th as it happens is the anniversary of Mexico's victory over French "occupation" of Mexico by Emperor Maximillian, brother to Austrian monarch Maria Theresa in what has been called the Battle of Puebla. The reason France was in Mexico in the first place was that Mexico, after the Mexican-American War and a more civil conflict called the Reform War, had bankrupted Mexico City. Mexican President at the time was Benito Juarez, who repudiated all foreign debt, of which France, Spain, and the United Kingdom were all major holders. A naval expedition was dispatched to Veracruz and France's Napoleon III thought it would be a good idea to establish a French "empire" in Mexico. But, on May 5th, 1862, in the aforementioned B...
Read more

Keeping The Faith ?

(Keeping The Faith ?) Happy Memorial Day ! This is the day when the nation pauses and recognizes the contributions of the men and women that strove, and often times perished in the defense of this country. How many campaigns and battles have been seen over the years with Americans in harms way. Theirs was not a pursuit of glory, necessarily but they are remembered as such. As an example, take the Joe Rosenthal photo of the "Iwo Jima Flag-raising," February 23rd, 1945. Most people know what that is and not a few have a copy on their wall. Three of those Marines survived Iwo Jima and went on a bond tour to promote that picture. The U.S. was able to fund the rest of the War off of that drive but the Marines in question did not fare well. Private Ira Hayes, the last casualty of the Volcano Island died of exposure some years later. There was one other Marine, Rene Gagnon, and who was originally believed to be Navy Corpman, John Bradley. Since then, the "place" in the Ros...
Read more

Prime Garbage ?

(Prime Garbage ?) In the movie Down & Out in Beverly Hills , starring Nick Nolte and Richard Dreyfus, Nolte plays a Beverly Hills bum who gets taken in by Dreyfus' family. Things did not quite work out Nolte went back to the street but he wanted to take the family dog, Nolte was rummaging through some trash and telling the dog this was "prime garbage." For his part, the dog changed his mind and went back to the Dreyfus family. During the Trump event at Madison Square Garden, an opening act comedian made some remark disparaging Puerto Rico, calling it a "island of garbage." Naturally the media went to work, saying it could depress the Puerto Rican vote, especially in Pennsylvania. Then, the Island "Senator" came out and endorsed Trump. But it has been President Biden's comment that the only "garbage he sees" are Trump voters. Reminiscent of Secretary Clinton's "basket of deplorables ?" Is the Biden remark that new standa...
Read more