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The ECB's Cash-Copter Arrives In Cyprus

Submitted by Tyler Durden on 03/27/2013 13:54 -0400

This is just too good:

Kathemerini are reporting that billions of euros have arrived from the ECB, and thats why the helicopter is wailing around Nicosia. CRAZY.

— Faisal Islam (@faisalislam) March 27, 2013

Is Bernanke, thanks to tens of thousands of flight time hours, piloting? And is Greenspan his co-pilot? Inquiring minds want to know.

In other news, we now know that Cypriot banks will now reopen at noon and close at 6 pm (or much earlier). The process should be... interesting.

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Wed, 03/27/2013 - 13:56 | 3382067 notbot

The new drone program, live from Marriner Eccles.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 13:59 | 3382093 flacon

That's FUCKED UP! And that is an understatement. Fucked the hell up!

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 13:59 | 3382105 DJ Happy Ending

I wonder if Ben is flying the helicopter.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:02 | 3382125 negative rates

Close shop as soon as we run out of cash. How long is that line?

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:05 | 3382131 Manthong

Hmm.. isn’t this just a little too convenient..

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/27/technology/internet/online-dispute-becomes-internet-snarling-attack.html?_r=0

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:07 | 3382154 notbot

My productivity at work is has a correlation of exactly -1.0 to the number of comments I make on ZH.

This Cyprus story is killing my work life.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:08 | 3382166 NotApplicable

Don't worry, it's not like anyone has a real job anymore, anyway.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:15 | 3382196 MagicHandPuppet

It's time to fill up those ATMs with central gubment slave coupons, pop some popcorn, and watch everyone line up and get while the gettin's good!

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 17:35 | 3383210 1C3-N1N3

It's "I go chop your dollar" not "I drop Euro from chopper". This is just a bad karaoke act.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:15 | 3382197 FEDbuster

I wonder if the Cash-Copter is playing Ride of the Valkyries on approch?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30QzJKCUekQ

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:16 | 3382208 Doubleguns

Probably playing something different.

http://elektron-bbs.dyndns.org/files/multimed/wav/massacr.wav

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 15:16 | 3382541 McMolotov

I wonder how many people are yelling, "Get to da choppa!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs_OacEq2Sk

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 17:33 | 3383196 Nussi34

The only question is how did manage to rubber stamp them as Cypriot-Euros so quickly?

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 19:08 | 3383511 margaris

I wonder how many people will be in a chopper observing a mushroom cloud (also a reference to said movie)

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:21 | 3382204 toys for tits

They also spent millions on the copter. Here's a photo.

http://cdn.acidcow.com/pics/20130327/acid_picdump_01.jpg

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:10 | 3382169 Yes We Can. But...

Deliver that worthless debased shit, freaks.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:17 | 3382209 Sudden Debt

first they circle the copter...
let them come close believing there's money inside....
BAM!!! NEUTRON BOMB!!! PROBLEMS SOLVED!!!!

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:21 | 3382232 machineh

No depositors ... no problem!

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:33 | 3382289 Groundhog Day

Interesting Sudden Debt,

have the hired guns form Britian kill the wealthier depositors and the need for money goes away

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:13 | 3382175 TruthInSunshine

Somewhat both on & off topic, but it looks like a certain someone saw the leaked "Cyprus Documents" earlier today, hmmm?

3-27 13:45: Luxembourg Finance Minister Frieden says depositors shouldn't take losses & wants to EXPAND Luxembourg as Financial Centre, not "downsize it"

News Headline Summary Luxembourg Finance Minister Frieden says depositors shouldn't take losses in Euro bank resolution

Says:
- Cyprus Deal shouldn't be model for bank restructuring.
- Cypriot model risks lost confidence in banks.
- Wants to expand Luxembourg as financial centre not downsize it.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:56 | 3382423 Mototard at Large

I guess it is a matter of go big or go home.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:20 | 3382228 Nothing To See Here

Cyprus captivated me for some moment too, but right now I am mesmerized by the sight of everyone around me who are either still unaware that there is a country called Cyprus, or, for the more educated ones, who believe that what's happening there is so far and so impossible here that they see it as a bedtime story for the "developped world". They'll be watching their soaps again tonight.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:27 | 3382262 TruthInSunshine

I don't think it's true, but a friend maintains with a straight face that he mentioned Cyprus to someone at his place of employment, and they told him they love the Bahamas, and had a nice vacation there (the Atlantis, obviously), but wouldn't do it again.

This co-worker was an Amerikan with an "advanced degree" from an Amerikan University.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:45 | 3382357 e-recep

i can't keep up with the overwhelming number of posts and comments. there's simply not enough time to read all this stuff.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:19 | 3382220 kliguy38

Thanx sweet jeeezus.......we've been saved.....look at that beeeutiful site......billions of dollars just falling out of the sky now......com'n mama get the kids and let's go out and gather this gift from sweeeet Jeeeeezuz......

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:23 | 3382241 Dr. Richard Head

The original "making it rain"!

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:31 | 3382277 machineh

There's no cash on that copter.

They're evacuating the government from the roof of the Parliament.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 20:49 | 3383775 Downtoolong

If Ben was flying the chopper he would just open the door and dump the money out over the entire country.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 21:04 | 3383812 thisandthat

More likely Benny is flying jets, nowadays - considering the height of the money pile, helicopters probably hit operational ceiling a long time ago.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:19 | 3382223 lotusblue

CNBC "Street Signs" talking about JCP ! Weak attempt to distract from reality of Europe EXPLODING ! Now that is CRAP

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:22 | 3382237 TruthInSunshine

Man, those FOOLS don't KNOW...

...the SHIT'S gettin' real in JCP's parking lot...

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:01 | 3382095 Mercury

The new drone program, live from Marriner Eccles.

Speaking of whom: Bank run management 101.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:04 | 3382134 Groundhog Day

I can't wait for the spin on CNBS tomorrow over the riots.

Pisani and liesman : "The Cypriots are just being unreasonable and acting like terrorists, don't they know that this was the best solution. If they defaulted, Cyprus would explode and go into a depression. It would have been disasterous"

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:03 | 3382103 TruthInSunshine

The sound of the Bernankopter for refernce

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:07 | 3382139 Mercury

He's watching on CCTV at the Fed building, toying with his yellow cavalry neckerchief:

I love the smell of fiat in the morning!

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:08 | 3382156 ParkAveFlasher

WILLARD I am -- I'm Captain B.L. Willard. This is Chief Warrant Officer Phillips -- it's his boat. We were shot up bad downriver and need repairs and food -- we can pay you in gold.**

**Cut from the theatrical version.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:16 | 3382198 resurger

was that holder at the boat para lol

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:08 | 3382161 Alpo for Granny

Boy are the Cypriots going to be pissed when they drop 1's and 0's.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:35 | 3382300 viahj

good thing that they have those internets, to catch digital intergers.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:27 | 3382265 Larry Dallas

Like a traffic jam on the Garden State Parkway or LIE on a Friday night, everyone probably wishing someone better have died to justify waiting so long...

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 13:55 | 3382072 Ahmeexnal

100% headcut confirmed for Laiki Bank depositors.

Me no likey Laiki Bank!

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 13:57 | 3382089 fonzannoon

Listin to Beppe at 3 mins 25 seconds in. The farmer screwed up. He should have withdrew every penny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dEemZ2pVyo

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 13:55 | 3382075 ziggy59

Ben, how can you be there and here?
Schrodinger is right again!

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 13:59 | 3382100 Groundhog Day

Don't you know, Ben Shalom is also Houdini

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:06 | 3382146 espirit

Alas, the show must go on.

Doncha want to be a gold dealer on the Island of Cyprus right about now?

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 13:57 | 3382083 rubearish10

So, this is a relief for the markets?

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 13:58 | 3382086 LawsofPhysics

Look, helicopter Ben wants inflation, actually he needs inflation, god damn it, he will get that inflation. If it has to start in Cyprus, so be it. Test case indeed.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 13:57 | 3382088 kito

lets see......1 million people......multiplied by 300 euro a day..........multiplied by a week...........hmmmm........the cypriots better hope for many helicopter visits...........................

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:01 | 3382119 AlaricBalth

“Awake, arise or be for ever fall’n.”
John Milton, Paradise Lost

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 13:58 | 3382092 GOLD AND SILVER...

SHOOT IT DOWN

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:05 | 3382143 pods

A very gefährliche Reise if there ever was one.

pods

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 13:58 | 3382094 fourchan

so the germans are paying off the russian mobsters while the people take the hair cut?

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 13:59 | 3382097 drink or die

We need a visual of this. Paging William Banzai.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 13:59 | 3382102 ziggy59

Uh, so which banks are missing all these billions today?

This is one dangerous HOT potato these mofos play with

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 13:59 | 3382107 lotusblue

Oh,Ok-So that's why the VIX is dropping ! Lol

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:01 | 3382109 Dr. Engali

Fuck the Bernank wasn't kidding when he said he could throw cash from a helicopter. I don't know why a good script writer hasn't capitalized on this ridiculous comedy.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:54 | 3382413 RichardENixon

No one is paying any attention to it except us. Everyone else is fixated on gay marriage.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:00 | 3382110 orangegeek

This is fucking surreal.

It's like the rice truck visiting Ethopia after a 5 year drought with machine guns going off in the background.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:00 | 3382111 joak

Freshly printed... it was fast for 10 billions, why arguing about the 7 remaining then ???

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:00 | 3382114 NoWayJose

I think I might actually set my alarm to get up early tomorrow morning so I can watch this... I'll just pretend my French Roast is really Banker Roast...

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:10 | 3382116 Tuffmug

Draghi probably flying it in personally. In a just world the copter would crash in the poorest section of the city and be looted of every last euro and Draghi captured and held for 10 billion ransom by Russian mob.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:01 | 3382120 SheepDog-One

Here comes DA MONEE yayyyyyy!!!

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:02 | 3382121 Yen Cross

Green B-52 contrails have been spotted overhead.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:02 | 3382122 resurger

I confirm the tweet

Bentonov 225 is in sight..

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:03 | 3382123 Edward Fiatski

My ROFL-Copter Goes SWOO-SWOO-SHWOO-SWOO-SHWOO-SWOO-SWOOSH.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8Hi_NCYNTM

It's Ben, kids!

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:02 | 3382127 little buddy bu...

people of cyprus, get off your knees.

hang 'em high.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:04 | 3382128 virgilcaine

This is the recovery..long live the recovery!.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:55 | 3382415 RichardENixon

Yes. It's almost time for another "Recovery Summer"

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:03 | 3382133 NoWayJose

As if this is supposed to help calm the Cypriot people.... or build confidence... Once they hear this rumor, they will be even more upset that they can only take out a small portion of their 100,000 Euros...

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:03 | 3382135 b_thunder

they need to hire the former Bush's proconsul in Iraq Paul Bremmer: he was in charge of stealing distributing $8B that came on the pallets to Green Zone straight from the NY Fed. For him, to steal distribute 1billion euros is like for Bernanke to print another 100 billion

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:10 | 3382155 Dr. Engali

Shit 88 billion? What a piker....Rumsfeld "misplaced" 2.3 trillion. He could "distribute" 88 billion with his eyes closed.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:14 | 3382183 NotApplicable

Well, technically, that was the entire DoD. Rummy just had to brave the hot lights and cameras for a whole entire day waiting for that portion of the Pentagon behind the investigation to collapse.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:11 | 3382172 resurger

The total was approx $40B, the central bank of Iraq did not get any of it ... Basel was in charge for he physical transfer in Iraq, now hes in charge of flooding Libya with another $100B ...

It's pathetic how blood gets spilled over fiat

sigh

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:04 | 3382136 Seasmoke

imagine if that helicopters crashed.......that would be _______________

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:09 | 3382162 AcidRastaHead

____ a new ironic definition of windfall.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:11 | 3382171 MsCreant

A big ball of paper fire?

Fun?

Time for a weenie roast?

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:34 | 3382292 Hulk

The banksters are weenies...

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 16:53 | 3382981 icanhasbailout

first thought I had was, "The Russians make lots of SAMs, don't they?"

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:06 | 3382148 AcidRastaHead

Oh yes, cash-copters to rescue insolvent countries. Now I remember that chapter in economic theory.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:15 | 3382191 NotApplicable

Modern day alchemy, one might say.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:06 | 3382151 Ness.

stocks moving to the highs of the day.

un-fucking-believable.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:19 | 3382216 Sudden Debt

while the wheels are falling off...

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:50 | 3382395 fuu

As they will as more and more is printed out of thin air.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:08 | 3382160 Unprepared

It's a drone, it's an F16, it's Bernankopter.

Prepare the wheelbarrows.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:11 | 3382167 Bunga Bunga

One day dog and pony show. Will go well. Then markets close for the long weekend.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:11 | 3382173 Yen Cross

The algos are in 'pile drive' mode into the end of q-1. Any news is BTFD. This shit is getting scary.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:13 | 3382179 rlouis

This is material for Zero Hedge Late Night comedy show: Ben Bernanke drops money from helicopter on Cyprus!

but it's 11:11 PST - I'm LMAO - too much.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:12 | 3382180 Falconsixone

mmm..... Paper to swap for reality makes me more slavery.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:13 | 3382182 TrumpXVI

We need to watch this to Wagner's "Ride of the Walkyries", man.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:14 | 3382185 Colonel Jessup

Looks like they have been sharing the printing presses with The Bernank here recently - they have probably had these in dry dock ready to go for some time, along with all of the other fiat they had to print to keep the bank in Greece and Spain open as depositors there have been draining accounts for some time now. Gotta keep the ink and paper flying to keep the game going - otherwise half the banks in Europe would have failed by now.

This is a coming attraction for the US - our banks are no better off, and neither is our national balance sheet. Folks need to wake up and prepare.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:17 | 3382207 NotApplicable

They'll never print like that here.

You'll take your "cash" in the form of a prepaid Visa card, and you'll like it!

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:14 | 3382186 eclectic syncretist

OK Ben, I hope you didn't fuck this up. Now the plan is to only drop 50's and 100's, because no one will take those for fear of counterfeiting, and that way they won't make their way into circulation. Meanwhile, we'll buy up all the gold and silver and start looking for a hideout. Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you, you're not invited. Fuck off!

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:19 | 3382199 Dewey Cheatum Howe

I hope some people who read this and are in Cyprus, when they open the banks if you withdraw some money can you tweet, post or by whatever methods pictures of some of the bills and serial numbers on them being issued in Cyprus. Be interesting to do a trace on them to see if they were freshly printed or not. Also interesting to see what country code the serial numbers trace back to and such.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:21 | 3382234 Navymugsy

I have three banks withing three blocks of my apartment in Limassol. I'll be out there tomorrow morning with my camera and if anything squirrely happens, I'll get the pictures to the Tylers for posting. I don't know if I'll have enough time to wait in line for a withdrawl.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:30 | 3382271 Dewey Cheatum Howe

If you do even better. I know there are people on here that know to decipher the serial numbers on the bills. It would make for an interesting blog piece for one of the Tyler(s) to write concerning the old adage follow the money.

Wed, 03/27/2013 - 14:18 | 3382214 SIOP