It is time for the US administration to remind everyone that while every other piece of bad news may be priced into the markets in perpetuity, there is still geopolitics. Although that may also be priced in. Either way, the WSJ [7]has just reported that "Federal agents on Friday arrested a man who they allege planned carry out a suicide bombing at the U.S. Capitol, part of a sting operation in which undercover agents posing as al Qaeda operatives provided fake explosives. The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Washington field office said the man was arrested "in the vicinity of the U.S. Capitol." It said the suspect never posed a danger to the public." Ah yes, the good old "threats are among us" gambit. And let's just go with the most trivial cliche possible. If nothing else, it sets the stage for next steps. As for what next steps may be, here is a hint, via Reuters [8]: "Two Iranian naval ships have sailed through Egypt's Suez Canal into the Mediterranean, in a move likely to be keenly watched by Israel. "Two Iranian ships crossed through the Suez Canal (on Thursday) following permission from the Egyptian armed forces," a source in the canal authority said Friday. Two Iranian warships sailed along the strategic waterway on February 17 last year, in a move that Israel called a "provocation." Either way, Suez developments may be Israel's issue for the time being. We now apparently have our own suicide bombers to be 'very worried about.'
From the WSJ:
"The arrest was the culmination of an undercover operation during which the suspect was closely monitored by law enforcement," a Justice Department spokesman said. "Explosives the suspect allegedly sought to use in connection with the plot had been rendered inoperable by law enforcement and posed no threat to the public."
Fox News, which reported the arrest, said the suspect was arrested in an alley blocks from the Capitol building, carrying a vest that the suspect allegedly believed was packed with explosives.
Federal authorities are expected to file charges against the suspect, who wasn't identified, later Friday.
As for Iran being aggressive in the Mediterranean (by doing what the US and Israel do all the time), and cause heart palpitations in Israel, or so the media would want us to believe, here is more from Reuters [8]:
The destroyer and a supply ship could be on their way to the Syrian coast, the source added. Iran and Syria agreed to cooperate on naval training a year ago, and Tehran has no naval agreement with any other country in the region.
Egypt's military, which has a close defense ties with the United States, has been governing the country since the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak a year ago.
The Suez Canal cuts through Egypt and allows shipping to pass from the Middle East to Europe and vice versa, without going around southern Africa.
Yes America, so many deadly dangers out there. Just sit back on your comfortable lay-away couch, and be happy to enjoy that American Idol rerun. And whatever you do, don't think, or use a calculator (it's not like the US $15.4 trillion in debt even fits on a regular calculator anyway).
All that matters is that the nominal DJIA is about to pass 13k and everyone can retire rich.