John T. Reed’s news blog

Can you learn how to fight a war at West Point or Fort Benning or Fort Bragg? I doubt it. When I was at West Point 64 to 68 they taught how to reenact WW II in Europe with front lines. Then they sent me to a war with no front lines in the jungle of Vietnam..Ditto Benning and Bragg. True, I have not been there in a while—54 years. Somebody's going to say I'm out of date. But I know from experience writing about this stuff that other current soldiers will tell me it is amazing how little the...

I advocate seven foreign currencies to hedge against USD hyperinflation. Initially, I got some criticism about flaws in one or more of the seven. That ended when I insisted critics state what better currency should replace the one they are criticizing. . Recently, a reader ignored that rule and persisted in criticizing my choices. . My seven foreign currencies are supposed to be a sort of mini foreign currency index fund. That means the average of the performance of all is the metric by which they should be judged. . Furthermore, I have said a zillion times, I am trying...

The remains of Corporal Luther Story have been found in Korea and returned. He very deservedly received the Medal of Honor. https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/remains-korean-war-hero-identified-73-years/story?id=98874559.The fact that jumped about his story was it is evidence of something that I have long said. Contrary to widespread belief, it is NOT military policy to never leave a dead solder or marine behind on the battlefield. It should only take even a layman minutes to recognize that there could be no such policy. Military units operate pursuant to missions. If they can accomplish the mission and recover a KIA, they do it. The second priority is...

I advocate foreign currency as a hedge against hyperinflation. But it's also a hedge against lower inflation. .I once tested one of my foreign debit cards in my local supermarket. Inserted it, typed my PIN, done. Same as using US debit card..That may be outlawed during hyperinflation, but not yet..Inflation is not a problem afflicting American PEOPLE. It only an affliction the US dollar. So stop using the US dollar. How? Open a foreign account in a low inflation country then use your ATM card on that account to buy stuff..To the merchant, it looks like you are paying in...

I have zero use for ANY bonds and regard them as grounds to have a conservator appointed by a court to prevent you from pissing any more of your life savings away..Bill Gross the Bond King was asked for a succinct comment on bonds recently. “Beware of inflation,” he said..Ya think? The real yield from a bond is nominal interest rate minus taxes due on the interest minus the inflation rate. That will often be NEGATIVE, almost guaranteed to be negative if inflation rises after you buy the bond..I just read the footnote on page 213 of the book The...