Over There! America Is Going/Gone/In, War

 

Watch: Bibi Warning Iran Nuclear Bomb Capability 'Imminent' - Spanning 30 Years

According to a Tuesday CNN report issued as bombs fly between Israel and Iran, US intelligence assessed that Iran was not actively pursuing nuclear weapons ahead of last Friday's Israeli attack and, even if it chose to, it would take up to three years to develop and deliver one.

This of course directly contradicts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s justification for launching the major airstrikes on Iran, which have continued and intensified, based on claims that Iran was close to obtaining a nuclear bomb.

Israel has been framing it as 'preemptive' - but even this term presumes that a foreign enemy was imminently about to attack, and thus preemptive action needed to be taken. Watch CNN clips of Netanyahu warning an Iranian bomb is imminent, spanning some 30 years:

President Trump in Tuesday comments aboard Air Force One dismissed the views of his own Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard, who had stated that Iran’s nuclear weapons program remained suspended since 2003. She indicated in prior senate testimony and that Ayatollah Khamenei had not authorized a restart.

But Trump instead publicly aligned with Netanyahu’s claims. "I don’t care what she said. They were very close to getting a nuke," he told reporters. The CIA had also recently said it does not assess Tehran is seeking nukes, as did the latest DNI report submitted to Congress.

As a reminder, the attack by Israel occurred just two days before scheduled US-Iran negotiations, during which Iran was expected to present a counter-proposal, and had been resistant to Trump's demands of zero enrichment.

And more footage of Bibi, with one clip all the way back in 1995: "Any day now..."

Chosen Need To Choose

 

Israel Running Low On Missile Interceptors As Iran Proves A Stronger Foe Than Expected

Following multiple rounds of Iranian missile barrages that have proven far more effective than many "experts" anticipated, the Israeli Defense Forces are already running low on defensive Arrow interceptor missiles, making Israel all the more desperate for the United States to join the war Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government initiated on Friday the 13th. Meanwhile, as Iran's retaliation continues, reports of war-fatigue among Israel's population are already emerging.  

Interceptor missiles in the sky over Tel Aviv during an early-Wednesday Iranian barrage (Leo Correa via Associated Press)

Against that backdrop, President Trump has been dialing up the intensity of his rhetoric as he pushes Iran to capitulate to demands that it cease all uranium enrichment -- a demand that Iran has long ruled out as a violation of its sovereignty, while insisting its nuclear program isn't focused on creating a weapon. The US intelligence community assessed that to be true in March. "UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!" exclaimed Trump in a terse Tuesday social media post. Trump, who spoke with Netanyahu by phone on Tuesday, is considering options that include a US strike on Iran, the Wall Street Journal reports.  As his deliberations continue -- while some members of Congress are backing a resolution that would bar a US attack without congressional authorization -- the Pentagon continues shifting a variety of assets toward the region. The DOD insists they're for defensive use, which includes shielding Israel from the consequences of starting a war with Iran.  

According to an individual briefed on US and Israeli intelligence, Israel is on pace to run out of defensive missiles in 10 to 12 days. “They will need to select what they want to intercept,” that person told the Washington Post. “The system is already overwhelmed.” Arrow interceptors are manufactured by Israel Aerospace Industries. The United States has been pushing other missile defense assets into Israel over the last week, but the Wall Street Journal reports that practice is already raising concerns about the effect on US military readiness.

Israel is running low on Arrow interceptor missiles fired from mobile launchers like this one (AP Photo: Eitan Hess-Ashkenazi)

“Neither the U.S. nor the Israelis can continue to sit and intercept missiles all day,” Tom Karako of the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) told the Journal. “The Israelis and their friends need to move with all deliberate haste to do whatever needs to be done, because we cannot afford to sit and play catch.” (CSIS is funded in part by the US government and major weapons manufacturers.) According to Israeli financial newspaper The Marker, the ongoing missile defense is costing Israel about $285 million a night, though ZeroHedge readers will reasonably brace for the day that American taxpayers are presented with the bill.   

Even ahead of running out of interceptors, Israel is struggling to consistently defend its citizens and assets from Iran's arsenal, and especially its cutting-edge hypersonic missiles. Videos of the missiles repeatedly hammering Israel have been making jaws drop around the world and across social media since Iran began retaliating for Israel's unprovoked launch of a war on Iran. 

Shifting Sand

 

Gold vs The Dollar: The Death Of Fiat In One Chart

Earlier today we reported that the latest BofA Fund Manager Survey confirmed what most already knew: that the shoeshine boy, the kitchen sink, and the basement-dwelling daytrader, not to mention everyone on Wall Street, were short the dollar. In fact, according to the FMS respondents, professional traders were effectively shorting the dollar in record amounts. 

But while we will leave aside the debate whether this record dollar short will transform into a record squeeze, another question is just as appropriate: is the decline and fall of the US dollar just a one-time flash in the pan, or is there something much more ominous here than meets the eye.

The answer, it turns out, is the latter: the decline of the dollar has been truly a secular development, one which started over a decade ago but was kicked into higher gear in the aftermath of the 2022 Ukraine war when the weaponization of the US Dollar sparked a flight away from the greenback - i.e., dedollarization - by any regime that was worried it may be on the receiving end of SWIFT sanctions. 

But what is perhaps far more notable is that as Socgen shows, since 2024, dedollarization has not benefited any of the major reserve currencies as one would expect in a fiat world where one currency's loss is another currency's gain. Instead, the share of gold in the IMF's classification has increased.

As the French bank goes on to note, the erosion of the dollar's share in global FX reserves, or de-dollarization, paused during the COVID crisis in 2020 but resumed in the second half of 2023. Since 3Q23, the share of USD FX reserves has fallen below 50%, representing a decline of -5.8%. The main beneficiary has been gold, which increased by +7.9% to 23.3%, reflecting how central banks are diversifying their dollar holdings...

$37

 

Is The Silver Bull Finally Here?

With silver classically lagging behind gold during the yellow metal’s stunning recent rise, Peter Schiff believes the long-anticipated bull market for silver is finally here in earnest. And in a bull market, silver tends to outperform gold - once it finally catches up.

We have covered Silver's recent run extensively:

• If You Missed Gold’s Run, Silver Still Has Room to Fly 

• Silver Is Finally Soaring: Here's Why 

• Silver Soars As Tariff Talk Escalates, But Goldman Sees No 'Euphoria' 

• Silver: Money, Markets, & The Metal's Role In The Coming Chaos 

But, anyone watching the gold-silver ratio this year can clearly see that a breakout was coming for gold’s closest companion. As May turned to June, the market heated up and silver rocketed upward.

One very interesting aspect of this very recent surge in silver (relative to gold) is that it has coincided with a very heavy period of drawdown for hedge funds as momentum trades have underperformed and most-shorted stocks have soared...

...making us wonder if hedgies are selling gold to fund margin (or was silver just aggressively shorted and this drawdown in stocks is forcing more degrossing - of those shorts)?

The gold-silver ratio, which had stubbornly hovered above 80:1 for much of the past year...

...soared up to a record 105:1 after Liberation Day...

But has since started to collapse back - a clear signal that silver was catching up.

Silver is finally stepping out of gold’s shadow, and the reasons are as fundamental as they are undeniable.

As Schiff continues to explain, silver’s unique dual role as both a monetary metal and an industrial commodity makes it a powerhouse in today’s economy, especially with the never ending obsession with green energy. From solar panels to typical electronics and medical applications, demand has been quietly surging. Last year, industrial silver demand hit a new record when it surpassed 680 million ounces, following three straight previous years of records. 

Global silver consumption for solar alone is projected to hit new highs, with 85% of silver paste demand going straight to solar panel production. The newer N-type solar panels, which now dominate the market, are more efficient and stable than P-type panels—and they require more silver to produce, not less. 

Meanwhile, mine production is flatlining. The world’s top silver-producing countries, like Mexico and Peru, are struggling with declining ore grades and regulatory headaches. Total global mine output in 2024 barely crept above 800 million ounces, while demand is pushing toward 1.2 billion. You don’t need a PhD in economics to see the squeeze coming.

The U.S. dollar, once the world’s unassailable reserve currency, is losing its grip as BRICS nations push for USD alternatives and central banks hoard gold at record rates. Silver, the more volatile cousin, can benefit disproportionately when trust in paper money collapses. Investors are waking up to the reality that silver, at under $40 an ounce, is still absurdly undervalued compared to gold’s $3,400 price tag. Historically, the gold-silver ratio has averaged closer to 50:1 or lower in bull markets. If that holds, silver could easily reach $50 an ounce before gold moves higher.

And don't forget, you need silver for missiles...

But don’t expect the mainstream media or Wall Street to cheer this on. The financial establishment loves to dismiss silver as “speculative” while peddling overpriced tech stocks and government bonds yielding negative real returns. They’ll tell you inflation is “under control” while conveniently ignoring that real-world costs—housing, energy, groceries—are rising much faster. The CPI is a rigged game, and savers are losing. Silver, unlike manipulated paper assets, is a hard asset that can’t be printed or devalued by central bankers. That’s why the smart money—central bankers, hedge funds, family offices, even retail investors—are piling in.

The silver breakout we’re seeing now was telegraphed months ago. Technical traders could have anticipated patterns signaling a major move, and the fundamentals back it up. Add in the geopolitical chaos—trade wars, sanctions, and debt crises—and it’s no surprise that safe-haven demand for precious metals is spiking. Silver’s volatility makes it a wild ride, but that’s exactly why the upside is so explosive.

The U.S. economy is a house of cards built on debt and delusion. The national debt is now $36 trillion, with interest payments alone eating up $1 trillion annually. The Fed can’t raise rates without crashing the system, and they can’t cut rates without igniting more inflation. It’s a trap, and silver is the escape hatch. Gold is an enduring store of value, but silver’s industrial demand gives it an extra kicker. As green energy and tech sectors grow, silver’s necessity only increases.

So, what’s next? If the gold-silver ratio continues to compress, silver could hit $40 or higher by year-end, with $50 not far behind. The silver market is waking up, and the window to buy silver at these levels is closing fast. Don’t wait for CNBC to tell you it’s time to buy. By then, the train will have left the station. 

Stack physical silver. Central bank balance sheets will remain bloated, the fiat system is crumbling, and silver’s breakout is just the beginning.via zer0hedge

Flip My Burger

 

Hold The Lettuce, Bring The Raids: Trump Reinstates Immigration Enforcement On Farms, Hotels, & Meat Plants

Via beefnews.org,

They paused the raids. Then un-paused them. For a moment, it looked like meatpackers and hoteliers had secured a get-out-of-jail-free card—courtesy of last-minute lobbying and soft-handed memos. But less than 72 hours later, the White House yanked the leash back. Again.

Immigration policy under Trump 2.0 has one rule: expect reversals. One week, ICE is told to steer clear of farms and restaurants. The next, they’re ordered to flood the fields. For now, the message is clear: no sanctuary for cartel labor.

But ask anyone who’s watched multinational meatpacker JBS dodge regulations for a decade—how long before the exemptions quietly return?

The Quiet Pause That Didn’t Last

Last Thursday, a quiet internal email from senior ICE official Tatum King directed agents to pause immigration enforcement at agricultural worksites, aquaculture operations, meatpackers, restaurants, and hotels. The memo went out just hours after lobbyists warned that mass deportations could gut food supply chains and derail hospitality services. The Washington Post confirmed the directive, noting that it had come under pressure from the agriculture and hospitality sectors.

But less than 72 hours later, the pause was dead.

The Reversal Order from the Top

By Sunday night, Trump posted to Truth Social, ordering ICE “to do all in their power to achieve the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History.” The next morning, ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations division held an 11 a.m. call with 30 field offices nationwide. The message: resume raids immediately—including at farms, hotels, and meat plants.

“There will be no safe spaces for industries who harbor violent criminals or purposely try to undermine ICE’s efforts,” said DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, confirming the reversal in follow-up statements to the press.

Who Pushed Back—and Who Won

President Trump with Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins

Behind the scenes, the policy fight had been a tug-of-war. Trump was hearing conflicting arguments. On one side, Brooke Rollins, the Secretary of Agriculture, pushed for protections—arguing that farms would collapse without access to low-wage migrant labor. Business groups like the American Business Immigration Coalition pleaded for exemptions, hoping to buy time before ICE agents hit the field.

On the other side stood Stephen Miller and Tom Homan, architects of the administration’s strict immigration posture, who reportedly pushed back hard against the idea of letting any industry off the hook.

They won.

The Numbers Behind the Crackdown

According to Homan, ICE is now executing over 2,000 arrests per day. The goal is 3,000. That’s not speculation—that’s the administration’s own stated target. And the only way to meet it, officials admit, is to raid the industries with the most concentrated pools of illegal labor: meatpackers, row crop farms, warehouses, hotels, and fast food chains. A leaked DHS memo even acknowledged the obvious: “By taking this off the table, we are eliminating a significant number of potential targets.”

Sovereignty vs Supply Chain Excuses

Images released by the US labor department show children working illegally for JBS and Tyson. Photograph: US Department of Labor

This isn’t just about border policy. It’s about labor economics—and sovereignty.

For years, cartel-linked multinationals like JBS and Tyson have quietly offloaded the true cost of meat production onto the backs of the undocumented. They’ve used front companies, fake Social Security numbers, and labor contractors with shady records. When child labor was exposed in the kill floors, they claimed ignorance—and paid a fine. Now they want the protection of “supply chain stability” while the rest of the country plays by the rules?

No more.

This is the showdown that’s been coming for decades: industrial food versus lawful labor. If that means higher wages for legal workers, so be it. If that means the cartel packers have to scramble while family-owned operations regain footing, even better.

The message has been sent: no more exceptions. And for the first time in a long time, the law might apply to the meatpackers, too.

via zer0hedge

 

 

Deep Clean

 

ICE Raid At Omaha Food Plant Results In Dozens Of Arrests, New Applicants For Open Jobs

Via American Greatness,

The largest federal worksite immigration enforcement raid so far this year in Nebraska, netted dozens of arrests during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdown on “the large-scale employment of aliens without legal work authorization.”

In an email to NBC News, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) confirmed that 76 individuals were taken into custody by ICE during the June 10 raid.

Some have been deported or transported out of state while others have been taken to the Lincoln County Detention Center.

NBC reports Lincoln County Sheriff Jerome Kramer said that none of the detainees are “violent offenders” and that many would be able to receive help to “complete the process to correct their work status and reunite them with families or employers.”

Facing the loss of nearly half his workforce, Glenn Valley Foods company president Chad Hartmann lamented last week that “there’s no playbook” on how to move forward with so many open positions.

Within two days, however, the company’s waiting room was filled with legal workers, eager to apply for the jobs needing to be filled.

 

GTFO

 

Trump Orders ICE To Expand Illegal Immigrant Deportation Efforts

Authored by Aldgra Fredly via The Epoch Times,

President Donald Trump on Sunday directed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers to expand efforts to detain and deport illegal immigrants in the country.

In a Truth Social post, Trump urged ICE officers to do everything they can to carry out what he described as the “largest mass deportation operation of illegal aliens in history,” particularly in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where many illegal immigrants are concentrated.

Protests have erupted in those cities in recent days, with thousands of protesters marching toward ICE facilities in protest against federal immigration enforcement efforts. In some locations, the protests resulted in injuries as demonstrators clashed with law enforcement.

Trump noted that ICE officers face violence and threats from opponents of the operation, but emphasized that nothing will deter his administration from fulfilling its mandate.

The president said he had directed his administration to put “every resource possible behind this effort,” while offering his unwavering support for ICE in executing the mission.

“Our federal government will continue to be focused on the remigration of aliens to the places from where they came, and preventing the admission of anyone who undermines the domestic tranquility of the United States,” he stated.

On June 12, the Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit against the state of New York over its state policies that prevent federal immigration officials from arresting immigrants at courthouses.

The suit was the latest in a series of actions the DOJ has brought, alleging that sanctuary jurisdictions thwart federal authority. In New York state, the department has filed two other lawsuits: one challenging the city of Rochester and another targeting the state’s restriction on sharing information through the Department of Motor Vehicles.

“Lawless sanctuary city policies are the root cause of the violence that Americans have seen in California, and New York State is similarly employing sanctuary city policies to prevent illegal aliens from apprehension,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement.

Trump suggested on June 12 that his administration would issue an order tackling the issue of illegal immigrants who work in agriculture, hospitality, and other industries, stating that his immigration policy could impact the workforce in these sectors.

“Our great farmers and people in the hotel and leisure business have been stating that our very aggressive policy on immigration is taking very good, long time workers away from them, with those jobs being almost impossible to replace,” he stated. “Changes are coming!”

Protests against ICE raids began in Los Angeles on June 6, stemming from the arrest of dozens of immigrants as part of the Trump administration’s mass deportation operation.

Trump has authorized the deployment of the National Guards and Marines to quell riots in the city, despite objections from Gov. Gavin Newsom, who called the move “a serious breach of state sovereignty.”

Sky Gas

 

Wave Of USAF Tankers Depart America Amid Escalating Israel-Iran Conflict

Israel's ongoing military campaign, Operation Rising Lion, has conducted coordinated precision strikes against Iran's nuclear infrastructure, crude oil export terminals, and high-value IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps) targets since late last week. The scope and sequencing of these strikes—outlined in a Wall Street Journal op-ed in October 2024—suggest objectives that go well beyond deterrence, aiming instead to pave the way for regime change in Tehran. 

Speaking Sunday, President Trump emphasized that the U.S. "is not involved" in Israel's strikes on Iran—adding, however, that "it's possible we could get involved."

"We're not involved in it. It's possible we could get involved. But we are not at this moment involved," Trump told ABC News' Rachel Scott. 

The president also took to Truth Social, positioning himself as mediator and de-escalator-in-chief, stating: "Iran and Israel should make a deal, and will make a deal."

Even though President Trump is intent on avoiding a direct confrontation with Iran, any IRGC shift from striking Israel to targeting U.S. interests or personnel in the Middle East would likely escalate the conflict and sharply increase the odds of American intervention.

Overnight, several aviation tracking websites, including Flightradar24 and Air Live, reported that dozens of U.S. Air Force tankers took off from the U.S. and headed towards Europe.

Destinations are unknown for some, but the Boeing KC-46A and KC-135 aerial refueling tankers are critical aviation assets that extend the operational reach, endurance, and flexibility of fighter jets. 

Since Israel Bombed Iran (McCain's Ghost)

 

USS Nimitz Carrier Group On Way To MidEast As Iran Reportedly Seeks De-Escalation With Israel

Update(1026ET): Below is Fox News' chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin confirming a major breaking development:

CONFIRMED: The USS Nimitz aircraft carrier strike group is on its way to the Middle East from the South China Sea, a U.S. official tells Fox News. The Nimitz was previously scheduled to replace the USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group which has been deployed for several months, but is now heading to the Middle East ahead of schedule. The two will now be in the Middle East at the same time. The USS Nimitz is the oldest active aircraft carrier in the U.S. Navy, commissioned on May 3, 1975. Scheduled to be decommissioned in 2026, this is possibly its final sea voyage. This is a very significant symbolic deployment because it was deployed in 1980 and its helicopters that were part of the failed US effort known as Operation Eagle Claw to rescue the American hostages being held at the US Embassy in Tehran. The US has been in a shadow war against Iran ever since. 

Soon after this reporting:

IRAN IS PREPARING FOR THE 'LARGEST AND MOST INTENSE MISSILE ATTACK IN HISTORY ON ISRAELI SOIL' -IRANIAN STATE MEDIA

This comes on the heels of reports that the US Embassy in Tel Aviv suffered "minor damage" from a nearby Iranian ballistic missile impact. And Reuters confirms:

US military has moved a large number of refueling tanker craft to Europe to give options to US President Trump...

This likely won't end well, given the Times of Israel is now citing Israeli officials who say the operation is expected to last two to three weeks. "There's a bank of military targets that we can complete prettying quickly." Meanwhile Iranian reports are claiming that only some 5% of its offensive missile capacity has been used. Meanwhile:

IRAN'S REVOLUTIONARY GUARDS CALL ON TEL AVIV RESIDENTS TO EVACUATE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE -IRANIAN STATE MEDIA

* * *

Update(1008ET): Everything is suddenly exploding higher - also with gold and oil dropping - especially on the following WSJ breaking report which suggests (dubiously, we should add...) that the Iranians are 'open' to returning to the negotiating table with Trump officials, even as ballistic missiles rain down on Israel, and as much of the Islamic Republic - particularly oil depots - burn...

"In the midst of a ferocious Israeli air campaign, Tehran has told Arab officials they would be open to return to the negotiating table as long as the U.S. doesn’t join the attack, the officials said. They also passed messages to Israel saying it is in the interest of both sides to keep the violence contained," per WSJ on Monday.

Oil prices tumbling on the breaking report...

S&P 2% from ATH...

Gold has been falling since before the missile war started late on Thursday...

WSJ continues, "Iran has been urgently signaling that it seeks an end to hostilities and resumption of talks over its nuclear programs, sending messages to Israel and the U.S. via Arab intermediaries, Middle Eastern and European officials said."

This comes also amid reports that dozens of US Air Force tankers have in the last hours taken off from the United States and headed towards Europe, as also confirmed in Flightradar24 and Air Live. Is Trump ready to join the Israeli side militarily? The Iranians fear so, it appears.

Iran's message is that "it is in the interest of both sides to keep the violence contained" - according to an urgeng diplomatic message passed along. But at this point it seems clear that Israel is going for full regime decapitation, given also that reports say the Israel Air Force has total aerial dominance over Western Iran and skies above Tehran at this point. If these reports of an Iranian olive branch are accurate, is it too-little-too-late?

* * *

After another day on the receiving end of an Israeli war of aggression that began Friday, Iran delivered a major counterpunch overnight, further demonstrating that Israel's highly-touted Iron Dome defense system is vulnerable to Iran's hypersonic missiles. Upon completing a deadly barrage aimed at targets in Tel Aviv, Haifa and elsewhere, Iran claimed it had employed a "new method" that put Israel's multi-layered defense system in disarray to the point its various systems targeted each other.  

As fire and rescue teams scrambled to respond to the damage, Times of Israel reported at least eight people had been killed and more than 90 injured in the early-Monday attack, bringing Israel's running death toll to at least 24 with hundreds wounded. “The arrogant dictator of Tehran has become a scared murderer who fires at Israel’s civilian home front in order to deter the IDF from continuing to carry out attacks that are destroying his capabilities,” said Defense Minister Israel Katz, only to then promise that "residents of Tehran will pay the price, and soon."  

Iran claimed it struck targets that included a power plant in Haifa that "was seen engulfed in flames," an oil refinery complex in Bazan, a facility of the military technology company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems facility, as well as Ben Gurion Airport. The Cradle reports that other targets included Nevatim Air Base, an army camp in Galilee, and hits on power grid facilities that caused "widespread blackouts." Projectiles also hit a residential high-rise building and at least another residential area. An Iranian defense official said the attack included missiles with 1.5-ton warheads, but noted Iran has even heavier warheads in its inventory.