War with Iran - DEFCON 3

[Donuthole]

I’m skeptical someone bought $1.5 billion in S&P futures in such a short amount of time. I’m also skeptical of someone offloading that volume in oil futures in such a short amount of time. Those markets are liquid but that’s a lot of contracts to trade in five minutes. Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m very skeptical.

So stipulated. I can add the qualifier: "If this really did happen, this HAS to be investigated."

[Copelius]

I’m skeptical someone bought $1.5 billion in S&P futures in such a short amount of time. I’m also skeptical of someone offloading that volume in oil futures in such a short amount of time. Those markets are liquid but that’s a lot of contracts to trade in five minutes. Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m very skeptical.

How hard can it be. I just sold $20 of Tesla and bought $20 of Google in 30 seconds. All you have to do is add a few 0s on your Fidelity account.

[dabrockster]

Reports of Saudi Leader encouraging Trump to continue the war. Also rumors of them allowing U.S. military onto their base.

Saudi Leader Is Said to Push Trump to Continue Iran War in Recent Calls

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sees a “historic opportunity” to remake the region, according to people briefed by U.S. officials on the conversations.

Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has been pushing President Trump to continue the war against Iran, arguing that the U.S.-Israeli military campaign presents a “historic opportunity” to remake the Middle East, according topeople briefed by American officials on the conversations.

In a series of conversations over the last week, Prince Mohammed has conveyed to Mr. Trump that he must press toward the destruction of Iran’s hard-line government, the people familiar with the conversations said.

Prince Mohammed, the people familiar with the discussions said, has argued that Iran poses a long-term threat to the Gulf that can only be eliminated by getting rid of the government.

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/24/u...smid=url-share

[LVAllen]

Reports of Saudi Leader encouraging Trump to continue the war. Also rumors of them allowing U.S. military onto their base.

Saudi Leader Is Said to Push Trump to Continue Iran War in Recent Calls

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sees a “historic opportunity” to remake the region, according to people briefed by U.S. officials on the conversations.




https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/24/u...smid=url-share

I'm 100% certain MbS already has his saw ready to enact his construction goals.

[LVAllen]

I’m skeptical someone bought $1.5 billion in S&P futures in such a short amount of time. I’m also skeptical of someone offloading that volume in oil futures in such a short amount of time. Those markets are liquid but that’s a lot of contracts to trade in five minutes. Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m very skeptical.

"The FT reported that some 6,200 Brent and West Texas Intermediate futures contracts changed hands between 6.49am and 6.50am New York time on Monday, before Trump claimed in his post at 7.04am there had been “productive” talks which could lead to an end to his Iran war."

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/poli...-b1276163.html

6,200 contracts. In two minutes. Where's the SEC? Purged by DOGE. The SEC Enforcement Division? Bereft of leadership after Division Director Margaret Ryan resigned after six months on the job. 9Not that she had a ton of experience, her primary qualification was "clerked for Justice Thomas," but she was reportedly allowing career staff to continue their cases.)

[Moliere]

"The FT reported that some 6,200 Brent and West Texas Intermediate futures contracts changed hands between 6.49am and 6.50am New York time on Monday, before Trump claimed in his post at 7.04am there had been “productive” talks which could lead to an end to his Iran war."

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/poli...-b1276163.html

6,200 contracts. In two minutes. Where's the SEC? Purged by DOGE. The SEC Enforcement Division? Bereft of leadership after Division Director Margaret Ryan resigned after six months on the job. 9Not that she had a ton of experience, her primary qualification was "clerked for Justice Thomas," but she was reportedly allowing career staff to continue their cases.)

Gotcha and looks like the trades happened. It definitely should be investigated.

FYI, the SEC doesn’t and has never regulated commodity exchanges.

[dabrockster]

We know that there will be a Marine Expeditionary Unit arriving this Friday in the Strait of Hormuz. But this recent article states that another Marine unit has left California and will be arriving mid April as well. That will bring the total to roughly 5,500 troops in the region. These measures sure do like we will be putting boots on ground.

The Pentagon has ordered a second marine unit, also composed of around 2,500 personnel, to depart from its base in California and head to the Middle East.

The 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, which operates from the USS Boxer and its amphibious ready group, left California last week and could reach the theatre by mid-April, the WSJ reported.

US officials briefed that the president was still considering aggressive military action as he declared his support for talks to reach a ceasefire.

Options include an operation to capture Kharg Island, the outcrop in the north of the Gulf through which Iran exports about 90 per cent of its oil, as well as a raid to capture Iran’s stock of highly enriched uranium.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-ne...-hormuz-kharg/

[BigPiney]

We know that there will be a Marine Expeditionary Unit arriving this Friday in the Strait of Hormuz. But this recent article states that another Marine unit has left California and will be arriving mid April as well. That will bring the total to roughly 5,500 troops in the region. These measures sure do like we will be putting boots on ground.



https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-ne...-hormuz-kharg/

My daughter's boyfriend is a marine at Pendleton. He was supposed to deploy to the Philippines next month. Now he is going to an undisclosed location, at least to us.

Yay president no new wars!

[Pelado]

My daughter's boyfriend is a marine at Pendleton. He was supposed to deploy to the Philippines next month. Now he is going to an undisclosed location, at least to us.

Yay president no new wars!

Do you like him? If not, maybe this is a tender mercy.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Do you like him? If not, maybe this is a tender mercy.

Lol.

[BigPiney]

Do you like him? If not, maybe this is a tender mercy.

I do not like him…

[LVAllen]

I do not like him…

Would introducing her to Brother Jody, the YSA ward Elders Quorum President, be an uncool move?

[PaloAltoCougar]

I do not like him…

Well then good luck, Private Uriah!

[falafel]

Well then good luck, Private Uriah!

No father wants his daughter to date a Hittite.

[BigPiney]

Would introducing her to Brother Jody, the YSA ward Elders Quorum President, be an uncool move?

I'd love for her to meet someone new.