The Economic Market and Oil

The New York Times: Reports on the recent 330+ dive in the US Stock Market, the article notes the following reasons, " Oil prices tumbled below $50 a barrel on Monday, spooking global financial markets....Worries about Greece’s ability to stay in the eurozone have reasserted themselves in recent days, for instance. The dollar continued its surge against the euro on Monday. "

Lets Get Real:

There is a glut of oil, thus prices will fall, the old producers of oil from the Middle East can not afford to cut back as they will lose their market share, as noted in the article there are other gas providers that can cover any space in the market.   What is also noted is that Greece is back on the table, there is a snap General Election this month, the left wing Party is expected to win, the Party has stated that it wants better terms from the EU, the Germans have said NO.  The German tax payer is not going cover to the promises of a left wing Party in Greece.   Thus either the LEFT in Greece fold or Greece is out of the Euro, either by its own choice or thrown out.   The benefit to the West of lower oil prices can be found in the fact that the UK Coalition Government will be heading in to an election with oil prices down.   That always looks good for the voter.   On the international field the low price of oil really hurts Iran and Venezuela, thus they need a deal with the US to get sanctions off, with a Republican Congress the Oval can whistle for any sanctions removed.   It will be interesting to see how the markets react tomorrow, will people still sell shares or start to buy as share prices get lower. 

The Republican Race for President - Election 2016

Telegraph: Reports " Mike Huckabee shakes up crowded 2016 Republican field with White House move..The Evangelical social conservative quits TV show to ponder presidential run "

Lets Get Real:

This is what Jeb Bush needs, as long as the Conservative vote in the Republican Primary fight is split among various candidates he can come through in the middle.  That is not to say Huckabee can not win, he is good on TV and is a evangelical conservative, he might even be a good VP to Bush.    This is very early, more candidates the better, looks like an interesting Republican race.   Also it can be expected that Governor Perry of Texas will run, as he has finished his term, also Senator Cruz of Texas.  Senator Paul the Republican has a problem, he can't run for re-election and run for the President in his home State.   There are many more candidates but the above are the front runners. 

IS Update - Iraq - The New War on Terror

Guardian: Reports " US troops begin training Iraqi military forces at bases in Anbar and Taji "

Lets Get Real:

This training by the US forces will take time, the very new Iraqi Army has to learn to walk before it can run, there have been reports that the Baghdad Government want to take the fight to Mosul.   As stated by this blog that is not a great idea, as of the moment the new Iraqi Army is getting good PR with its small victories, it can not afford to give that PR value away in a rush to take major towns and cities.   In close combat the Iraqi Army will not have the air support of the US Air Forces, as the Oval Office would not want to see images of innocent people getting killed by US air attacks.   This new war on terror will last in to the next administration, there is no rush, IS can be defeated but it will take time.