Quick prediction... If Mubarak is removed (forcefully or otherwise) Our relations will deteriorate in a matter of months. With the current administrations stance on domestic oil drilling, we could very quickly find ourselves short of fuel. Everything will increase in cost, from food to fuel.
Few people truly understand how fragile the worlds economy is at this moment. One major disruption in the supply chain, whether that be in oil, food or a nation on the brink of civil war, -and we all collapse. This was why nobody jumped at N. Korea sinking a S. Korean ship and then lobbing a few shells on their territory. At any other time... the response would have been succinct. The markets (DOW NASDAQ) are artificially propped up by government spending and borrowing. Take out Banking, financials and government subsidies such as corn, GM, Freddi and Fanni... etc. -and you have the actual number we are trading at, about 6000, maybe 7. Here's the problem. We are out of money. We can not borrow anymore. We can not print anymore for fear of devaluation and mass inflation. Nation wide, we are at 9 and a half percent unemployment. (14+% if you were to count the actual's IE... self employed) There are 6.8 million homes that are either within foreclose or 60+ days late on their payments. (8.9 million if you count the banks shadow inventory they are not listing to keep housing prices artificially high) In addition, the second wave of foreclosures are looming due to the governments "making home affordable" program in which 48% of those that received a modification through Freddi and Fanni... are 45+ days behind in their payments. Freddi and Fanni own approx. 60+% of all loans in America. This indicates that approximately 50% of all home loans are severely late with payments... and an inability to lend by a financial industry, due to new rules and regulations placed upon them by an over zealous and over reaching administration.
I could go on... but here's the bottom line. Hang on to as much cash as you can. When this **** hits (and it will) you will not have access to cash through your bank. Part of the new financial regulation was the new rule on withdrawals. YOUR bank can now legally hold your cash... not just deposits, for 5 working days. This is done so that there will not be a run on the banks by account holders in case of another crash. Keep 10% of all your funds in cash and on hand... just in case.
I hope I am wrong. If I'm wrong... no harm done. If I'm correct...