OPEC Disagreement

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
OPEC had their meeting on Friday and the 14 oil nations could not agree on a central issue.

Iran and Iraq want to continue to produce more oil. They need the money - their main source of revenue is oil.

The other members said that Iran and Iraq need to hold to their production quotas to keep the market stable. This is especially true now as the price of oil is increasing --- if they flood the market with more oil, the price will certainly drop.

OPEC set another meeting for November 30.

In the meantime OPEC members will meet with other oil producing countries.
OPEC is trying to collude, they want to confirm that all oil producing countries are on the same page.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah
To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com

Shiites Shoot Missile Toward Mecca

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The other day the Shiite Houthis of Yemen launched a missile into Saudi Arabia. The missile was intercepted 40 miles from Mecca by a Patriot anti missile battery.

The Shiite Houthis are involved in a civil war in Yemen backed by the Iranians. They claim that the missile was not aimed at Mecca but rather, it was aimed at their second largest city Jeddah with a population of 4 million.

The Saudis say that this attack was a terrible violation. It effectively broke through the glass ceiling. The Shiites respect Mecca as a Muslim site, but they resent Saudi control over the site.

This assault was a massive game changer.

There is no doubt that Saudi Arabia will respond to an attack of this magnititude with a serious and significant counter attack.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah
To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com

Abbas Meets W Hamas Leaders

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
Mahmud Abbas, the leader of Fatah and the President of the Palestinian Authority, met yesterday with the two leaders of Hamas. The meeting took place in Doha, the capital of Qatar. It was sponsored by the Qatari foreign minister.

The objective of the meeting was a reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas. Abbas did not want to meet with the Hamas leaders. His advisers and handlers repeatedly said that there were no plans for a meeting in Qatar despite rumors from Hamas and Qatar leadership.

An official statement from Abbas' office said that the meeting was a business lunch and the objective was to try to reconcile the two sides.

Despite the fact that they had lunch together, there is no chance for that Hamas and Fatah will get together. They hate one another and do not trust each other.

This is just the most recent set of events resulting from the election that Abbas cancelled and that
Hamas barred Fatah from participating in.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah
To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com

Saudis Sign Nuke Deal

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Yesterday, World Nuclear News published an announcement that Kazakhstan and Saudi Arabia have signed a nuclear pack.

Saudi Arabia has plans to create 300 nuclear facilities over the next few years and this agreement with Kazakhstan is a huge component of the larger picture. Kazakhstan sits on 12% of the world's uranium. Together with Russia, which will enrich the uranium, Saudi Arabia can now create the nuclear material that will enable them to create nuclear plants.

Saudi Arabia already has nuclear deals with Argentina, France, China, Finland, Hungary, Indonesia, Russia and South Korea.

This agreement with Kazakhstan puts Saudi Arabia squarely on the nuclear map.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah
To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com

Cyber Attack on Friday was a Warning

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Friday's cyber attack is an important warning to us all.

On Friday, Twitter, Snapchat, Vox, Reddit, Etsy, Netflix and Amazon all came under cyber attack.

They all went down.

This was an amazing cyber attack and it was spread through kiddy cams and home routers.

The essential point is that future conflicts will be centered around cyber attacks.
Future wars will more than likely utilize cyber attacks.

They will certainly be less bloody than traditional wars, but the fall out and the damage caused by cyber attacks is still unknown.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah
To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com

Price of Oil is Rising

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Knew it would happen. It did!!!

Oil hit $50 a barrel. The Saudis are elated. So are the Iranians. And everyone else in OPEC, too.
To give some perspective: In January oil was below $30 a barrel. In February it fell even more, to $26. And now - oil is expected to hit $60 a barrel by year's end.

The changes are due to several factors.

The two most important factors involve Venezuela and Russia.

During the first week of October Iran and Venezuela agreed to freeze production in an effort to stabilize the market, i.e. to increase the price of oil. Then during the 3rd week of October, OPEC and
Russia agreed to a production reduction.

There is great distrust of Russia, and yet, the price of oil is rising.
This is good news for Iran and Saudi Arabia and of course for Russia.

It is bad news for us.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah
To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com

Iran Preps to Kidnap More Americans

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
Iran has been positioning itself to kidnap more Americans. Just a few months ago, in a reversal of long standing policy, the US transferred $1.7 billion to Iran in exchange for freeing American hostages in Iranian custody.

Since the release of those hostages, Iran has taken more Americans.

It is inevitable that the new hostages will be ransomed for billions more dollars.

The Iranians have already begun discussions, or rather negotiations, for the lives of these Americans.

Iran wants to kidnap Americans and use them to make money. They are
already on their way.

The precedent has been set.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah
To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com

ISIS Loses Money Sources

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

One of the most important effects of the United States' and Allies' strikes against ISIS in Mosul, is that the pounding and the invasion is resulting in the shrinking of ISIS resources and of monies immediately available to them.

The attack on Mosul is causing a shrinking of ISIS oil and gas and cash and bank accounts - essentials that have been the foundation of their state since 2014.

Most of these resources have now fallen back into the hands of the Iraqis.

ISIS has been forced to turn to other means of generating cash.

They are raising income by increasing their extortion and protection programs. They are also increasing their kidnapping efforts and are raising money from foreign supporters.

Without money, ISIS will die a slow death.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah
To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com

Iraq & US Drop Leaflets on Mosul

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

The Iraqi army dropped leaflets over Mosul early Sunday morning warning residents that the final assault will soon take place.

The messages told the population that their intent is not to target civilians, and that they should avoid ISIS areas. Other leaflets announcements that the final attack to free Mosul from ISIS is about to begin.

Many say that announcements of this kind show the players' hand.

They say that the bad guys will have the opportunity to run away or to burrow and hide deeper underground or even embed themselves more tightly among the innocent population.
Israel drops these messages.

It is an important moral component of combat.
Innocent civilians should not be targeted. Inevitably, some evil characters do escape but more normally, exits are limited and only innocent people are permitted to leave.

Today wars can be surgically and successfully executed.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah
To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com

Saudis Want Normalization w/ Israel

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

An official Saudi lobbyist proposed closer relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel, especially economic relations. The essay with this information was published in an oped essay in The Hill, an insider DC web journal.

The author of the piece is Salman al Ansari who is the founder and president of a Saudi PAC in DC called the Saudi Public Relation Affairs Committee.

Ansari suggested "rapprochement" between Israel and Saudi Arabia. He wrote that they have many common objectives and "a more solid foundation for establishing deep-rooted ties between the two countries could manifest in the context of a mutually beneficial economic partnership."

He believes that better relations between Israel and the Saudis would create "a rare, golden opportunity for Israel to participate in and help bolster the Saudi economy."

Ansari also wrote about Israel helping the Saudi deal with issues like water and technology. Better relations "will undoubtedly promote security and weaken extremism in the region."

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah
To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com

US Ship Attacked in Red Sea

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Iranian backed Houthis shot 2 missiles at a US destroyer off the coast of Yemen.

The missiles missed, but it was clear that the US destroyer was the target of the attack.

A little background. The conflict in Yemen is between Shiite Houthis and Sunni Yemeni leadership. Iran is backing, arming and helping the Houthis while Saudi Arabia is supporting Sunni leadership.

The attack took place in the Red Sea. It came on the heels of last week's bombing of a UAE auxiliary ship by the Houthis. The United States has sent in support ships to make certain that the water ways stay secure.

Iran, through their Houthi proxies, are sending a message to the United States. The message is that: We, the Shiites, are in charge.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah
To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com

Israeli Fast on Yom Kippur

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

It is the eve of Yom Kippur and Israel is preparing for the fast day.

61% of Israelis have declared that they are going to fast on Yom Kippur, 38% have said that they will not fast and 1% did not respond at all. The poll was conducted by YNET.com and by Bina, the movement for social change. They polled 500 people, with a standard deviation of 4.4%.

Fasting on Yom Kippur is a religious act. Does that mean that over 60% of the population in Israel is religiously observant? It does not. The number of religiously observant Israeli Jews is closer to 20% of the country.

The reason for the 40% disparity is simple to understand. Israel is a Jewish society. Jewish life is the foundation of the State. It's that simple. And when you understand that, you can also understand why it is that so many Israelis sit down to Shabbat dinner every Friday night.

Israel is a society where secular Israelis are not really secular. In Israel, secularism is infused with religious undertones.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah
To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com

Russia Blocks Airstrike Vote in Sec Council

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Both France and Russia had their proposals to end airstrikes in Aleppo rejected by the UN Security Council yesterday.

The French proposal, which received 11 votes in favor, was defeated by a Russian veto.

The US said that because of the failed resolution more people will die and that Russia is part of the killing process, "using tactics more commonly associated with thugs than governments."

The British UN Ambassador said - "please stop now!"

In response, the Russians presented their proposal to stop airstrikes. The Russian resolution received only 4 votes - there was no need for a veto. In order to be adopted and carry, a resolution needs a yes from 9 of the 15 members with no vetoes from any of the 5 permanent members.

The Russian proposal was not really an end to all airstrikes. They proposed using the September 8th ceasefire as the foundation of their resolution.

That would mean placing the responsibility on the local actors and permitting parties like Russia and the United States to continue to bomb at will.

Back to square one.


Micah@MicahHalpern.com

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah
To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com

Hackers May Sell to Terrorists

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Eugene Kaspersky, one of the world's leading cyber security experts, just expressed one of his leading fears. He said "I am really afraid some terrorist group will pay cyber criminals to develop and deploy such weapons on their behalf."

Kaspersky said that cyber criminals often are mercenaries, providing cyber crime services to anyone who is willing to pay - anyone, even terrorists.

This is very scary. Kaspersky's comments were made in an interview he gave to ComputerWeekly.com.

Fears that a cyber weapon will be launched are real. The parties in the game will probably exercise self control. But terror groups, by definition, want to attack the most sensitive part of society and wreak havoc.

If cyber criminals are hired they will produce a devastating cyber weapon. There is no doubt that terrorists will deploy the weapon. The result will be devastating.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah
To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com

Iran Warns Saudis in Straits of Hormuz

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:

Iranian Revolutionary Guards have issued a public warning to Saudi Arabia to stay out of Iran's territorial waters.

The Saudis have begun a five day maritime war game in the area. Iran wants to make certain that the Saudis stay out of the Persian Gulf and the Straits of Hormuz. Iran is interpreting the entire activity as a saber rattling.

Of course the Iranians would think that, and of course that is why Iran responded so forcefully. It is also of course critical to know that Saudi Arabia deliberately planned these maneuvers in order to get under Iran's skin.

The problem with all these actions and counter actions is that they continue to ratchet up tensions and intensity in the region - which is already explosive enough on several fronts.

The parties are already confronting one another through proxies in various areas in the Middle East including Syria, Iraq and Yemen.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah
To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com

Iran Insults Germany

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
German Minister of Economic Affairs Sigmar Gabriel is visiting Iran. The visit has been heavily covered in Iran, in Germany and throughout Europe.

That having been said, imagine my shock when it was announced that Iranian speaker of the parliament, Ali Larijani, has cancelled his meeting with Gabriel. Remember, Germany and Gabriel have been in the forefront of leaders asserting that Iran is changing and that countries and leaders need to give Iran opportunities.

No reason was given for the cancelled meeting.

Whatever the reason - it was a huge mistake on the part of Iran.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 


Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah
To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com

Abbas Condemned for Peres Funeral

By Micah Halpern

I've Been Thinking:
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas attended the funeral of Israel's former president, Shimon Peres. Abbas was one of 70 leaders from countries around the world who came to pay tribute to Peres, the Israeli statesman who had a real impact not only on the Middle East but also on their worlds.

During his eulogy, President Obama gave a shout out to Abbas for attending the funeral. Across the Palestinian world social media criticized Abbas for attending. It was vicious.

Some officials were extremely critical of Abbas on their private social media accounts. What they did is in violation of their employment agreements which do not permit public critique. And, in some cases, it is even illegal.

PA Military PR officer, Osama Mansour, was arrested for writing and criticizing Abbas on his private facebook page. Yes. Arrested for criticizing the President! In a democracy he would be censured and maybe lose his job - but not arrested. He would only be arrested if he had exposed national secrets.

The PA, as we know all too well, is not a democracy.

Micah@MicahHalpern.com 

Read my latest book THUGS. It's easy. Just click. http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=halpern%2C+micah
To reprint my essays contact sales (at) www.featurewell.com