[Mr Medved]

Open thread for 2012 economic predictions... housing, gold, geopolitical... whatever floats your boat.

[Pr0]

Mr Medved, on 31 December 2011 - 06:29 AM, said:

Open thread for 2012 economic predictions... housing, gold, geopolitical... whatever floats your boat.

Prediction for 2012 is Suffering, lots of it!

[Solomon]

Pr0, on 31 December 2011 - 12:00 PM, said:

Prediction for 2012 is Suffering, lots of it!

That might be just a bit harsh Pr0.
Life is always full of suffering.
Has never been any different.
Just the degrees change.
If you're Darwinian, you have to believe in survival of the fittest. The "dog eat dog" scenario.
Thankfully I'm not, so I can have hope in the value of compassion, charity and genuine care for one another.
It's what's enabled human beings to survive previous very tough periods.

So I'm sure there will be gems of joy in 2012 as well.
Imagine Sam Stosur winning the Australian Open.
Or the Cowboys winning the NRL Premiership.
Maybe Collingwood will win another flag!
Some people might actually find the home they desire at the price they can afford.
That is worth celebrating.
These may all be short-lived relief, I know, but they still bring a joyful tear to your eye.

We are expecting 3 grandchildren this year.
I'm anticipating lots of good things.
Now! If I can only just hold on to my job.

[tor]

Solomon, on 01 January 2012 - 02:41 AM, said:

...If you're Darwinian, you have to believe in survival of the fittest. The "dog eat dog" scenario.
Thankfully I'm not, so I can have hope in the value of compassion, charity and genuine care for one another.
It's what's enabled human beings to survive previous very tough periods.

Survival of the fittest, if applied to human society, seems to indicate the most compassionate societies win.

[Pr0]

Hmm, you are right there will be the occassional joy in the year ahead. Most of them will be personal to those concerned, however those little moments of joy that soften the heart of anyone; bringing fluid to the eye and also the stomach of contents will eventually disappear into the background when the issues of those covering up true details of what is actually going on come to light.

If the greed is stopped and society becomes a little more normal then yes I too will be happy and may have a tear in my eye seeing that once again we can all live together in truth, harmony and the American way, sorry wrong country and the worldly way. I doubt it very much though, so despair, frustration, suffering and more protests are coming! It will not be pretty and there is nothing that I can do to help my fellow Human being from their pain that they will endure.

So in as much as I can say for a prediction of sorts is that the world has lost its way and the lesson of Rome is not learnt and wasted on those so young and ignorant, when common sense prevails it may just be too late for the many with empty bank accounts and no homes to live in and hopelessly wandering the streets wondering what happened?, why didn't anyone tell me? Why didn't anyone warn me?

I will gladly tell them that they should of been reading "simple & sustainable" as the stars are not read anymore nor do many dream the elusive dream! They just follow the propaganda being fed to them and compete for the best renovation and how many houses can I knock down and rebuild again and how much profit can I make so this is acceptable as this is the capitalists way.

So come on Collingwood and Sam Stosur and everything else that is good and pure, give those few some Joy for the hope to grasp some happiness even just for the smallest of moments as that should dull your pain of losing your way in society and living at the bottom end of the ladder again!

It has not happened in Australia yet and many say it will not, you are only kidding yourself. We are not immune, I'm not saying that you brought it on yourself with your greed and selfishness, no not at all. Stop kidding yourself, get out whilst you can, get some cash in the bank and pay off all your debts, save yourself from stress to you and those close to you and make some simple rules and live a simple life, work hard and save some more!

Not everyone can be rich you know, so the next time you are admiring your assets on the papers in front of you; remember to look at who actually owns it first. As the last time I recall that paper you keep on admiring you know the one with all the pretty numbers on it, well I am pretty sure it is owned by some Financial Institution.

Prediction is Dream the Dream and live the life of what you can actually afford! The only people who get richer are as you guessed and may have already known is that 5% of very rich people who run the world. Always have and always will.........

Stop trying to jump the queue and get back to your spot in the line, your turn will come soon in about 5 to 30 years +.

C'mon 2013!

[Bernard L. Madoff]

Solomon, on 01 January 2012 - 02:41 AM, said:

If you're Darwinian, you have to believe in survival of the fittest. The "dog eat dog" scenario.
Thankfully I'm not, so I can have hope in the value of compassion, charity and genuine care for one another.
It's what's enabled human beings to survive previous very tough periods.

Hmmm do you know the outcomes of the Batavia (link) shipwrecked off WA ? The mutineers off the Bounty at Pitcairn? The Holocaust? Armenian genocide? The Japanese in China 30s and 40s? Rwanda and People Republic of Congo (Zaire)? The occupied territories and Gaza? Genocides in History.

Those with Compassion and Charity are offset by those with greed, basal animal extincts, a lust for power and sociopathic and psychopathic tendencies.

2012.

• At least one Eurobank will fail as capital flight from the PIIGS increases in intensity.
  
• Credit contagion and freeze.
  
• Crash of various debt fuelled asset classes.
  
• China's manufacturing sector continues to contract (now 2 months running), their housing and debt sector collapses.
  
• Japanese economy on the verge of collapse as Yen reaches all time high.
  
• ASX will see 2xxx
  
• Unemployment in Oz 9% and rising
  
• Australian bank profits turn to losses ala USA, Ireland, Britain etc with abysmal outlook for 2013 as another 8-10% wiped off house prices.
  
• 40% of Americans and 8% of Australians have 'underwater mortgages' or negative equity.
  
• US Debt over $17 trilion (thats a gimme)
  
• Gold over $2500 USD as QE3 is triggered following a late 2008 NYSE -30% replay, which puts a boost under stockmarkets, but little else as US unemployment U3 nudges 12% .
  
• Australia's Deficit increases as tax revenues dwindle
  
• Australian states get credit downgrades as the stamp duty money flow slows to trickle and their in massive deficits leading to massive cuts in state public servants.
  
• If Ron Paul doesn't get GOP nomination, No Hope Obama hits the front.
  
• AUD breaches 75c.
  
• Coin toss on Iran invasion as China declares alliance.
  
• Russia continues to take a more aggressive and militaristic stance towards the west with a possible China alliance (enemy of my enemy is my friend).
  
• Civil unrest climbs in the PIIGS and UK - soldiers used to keep it under control as civil war draws closer as unemplyment climbs, credit is frozen and austerity creates a depression.
  
• Le Pen and the far right take more dominant positions in France if not president Le Pen

Happy New Year!!

[Bernard L. Madoff]

tor, on 01 January 2012 - 03:16 AM, said:

Survival of the fittest, if applied to human society, seems to indicate the most compassionate societies win.

AFTER the carnage and the blood is spilled.

[Solomon]

Bernard L. Madoff, on 01 January 2012 - 04:22 AM, said:

Hmmm do you know the outcomes of the Batavia (link) shipwrecked off WA ? The mutineers off the Bounty at Pitcairn? The Holocaust? Armenian genocide? The Japanese in China 30s and 40s? Rwanda and People Republic of Congo (Zaire)? The occupied territories and Gaza? Genocides in History.

Those with Compassion and Charity are offset by those with greed, basal animal extincts, a lust for power and sociopathic and psychopathic tendencies.

I never suggested human beings aren't capable of atrocities against each other.
What I was trying to say is that I can also believe that despite that capability, we are also capable of compassion.
Life is severe.
And when people are put to the test they resort to basic animal instincts, as you point out.
But what has enabled us to survive for the past 10,000 years is those rare expressions of care for the weak.
Without that, we have no other ultimate destiny, but entire annihilation.

I understand, I think, you disgust with the world Bernard.
I share your disgust.
There are so many people, (as Pr0) points out, who have shafted us, good and proper, and continue to do so, without any conscience, or sense of wrong doing. This is what disgusts me.
But despite that, can't I still hold onto the shred of evidence that suggests we, of all the species can rise above our barbaric tendencies.

I don't quite know, how else to put it into words, but without that hope, I might as well commit "hari-kari" myself; rather than find myself in a position where your predictions become reality.

Quote

2012.

[*]At least one Eurobank will fail as capital flight from the PIIGS increases in intensity.
[*]Credit contagion and freeze.
[*]Crash of various debt fuelled asset classes.
[*]China's manufacturing sector continues to contract (now 2 months running), their housing and debt sector collapses.
[*]Japanese economy on the verge of collapse as Yen reaches all time high.
[*]ASX will see 2xxx
[*]Unemployment in Oz 9% and rising
[*]Australian bank profits turn to losses ala USA, Ireland, Britain etc with abysmal outlook for 2013 as another 8-10% wiped off house prices.
[*]40% of Americans and 8% of Australians have 'underwater mortgages' or negative equity.
[*]US Debt over $17 trilion (thats a gimme)
[*]Gold over $2500 USD as QE3 is triggered following a late 2008 NYSE -30% replay, which puts a boost under stockmarkets, but little else as US unemployment U3 nudges 12% .
[*]Australia's Deficit increases as tax revenues dwindle
[*]Australian states get credit downgrades as the stamp duty money flow slows to trickle and their in massive deficits leading to massive cuts in state public servants.
[*]If Ron Paul doesn't get GOP nomination, No Hope Obama hits the front.
[*]AUD breaches 75c.
[*]Coin toss on Iran invasion as China declares alliance.
[*]Russia continues to take a more aggressive and militaristic stance towards the west with a possible China alliance (enemy of my enemy is my friend).
[*]Civil unrest climbs in the PIIGS and UK - soldiers used to keep it under control as civil war draws closer as unemplyment climbs, credit is frozen and austerity creates a depression.
[*]Le Pen and the far right take more dominant positions in France if not president Le Pen
[/list]

Happy New Year!!

BTW, I think many of your predictions are worth keeping on record.
They reflect much of my own thinking.
Especially in relation to Australia.
I'm just not sure about the wars! These are a little more difficult to orchestrate.

I also personally think Japan could be the key to many of your other predictions.
If your prediction on Japan is correct, the game is over, well and truly. The great unwind must occur, once Japan falters.
The only addition I would include is the UK. I think their financial system is the lynch pin to a whole range of other financial institutions. Any slight tremor in that house of cards, and everything falls as well.

A whole lot to get your head around, and to keep your eyes on.
Maybe, survival of the fittest means, those who are most alert to their environment, and who remain awake.

[Bernard L. Madoff]

Solomon, on 01 January 2012 - 12:13 PM, said:

But what has enabled us to survive for the past 10,000 years is those rare expressions of care for the weak.
Without that, we have no other ultimate destiny, but entire annihilation.

Indeed its those that resist/fight against evil/oppression and help the poor and suffering that ensures survival.

Solomon, on 01 January 2012 - 12:13 PM, said:

But despite that, can't I still hold onto the shred of evidence that suggests we, of all the species can rise above our barbaric tendencies.

I guess thats why we have periods of peace and prosperity and calm following barbarous periods. Then we forget what we have learned and do it again.

Solomon, on 01 January 2012 - 12:13 PM, said:

Maybe, survival of the fittest means, those who are most alert to their environment, and who remain awake.

Thats worthy of a calendar. I like it. Explains in one sentence why one wildebeeste continually survives whilst another becomes a pile of bones on an Attenborough doco. Thats the No1 philosophical one liner of 2012.

[Blowin in the Wind]

I predict- unpredictability.

I know that is was predictable that I say this, but that is the kind of guy I am.

[staringclown]

Bernard L. Madoff, on 01 January 2012 - 04:22 AM, said:

Hmmm do you know the outcomes of the Batavia (link) shipwrecked off WA ? The mutineers off the Bounty at Pitcairn? The Holocaust? Armenian genocide? The Japanese in China 30s and 40s? Rwanda and People Republic of Congo (Zaire)? The occupied territories and Gaza? Genocides in History.

Those with Compassion and Charity are offset by those with greed, basal animal extincts, a lust for power and sociopathic and psychopathic tendencies.

2012.

• At least one Eurobank will fail as capital flight from the PIIGS increases in intensity.
  
• Credit contagion and freeze.
  
• Crash of various debt fuelled asset classes.
  
• China's manufacturing sector continues to contract (now 2 months running), their housing and debt sector collapses.
  
• Japanese economy on the verge of collapse as Yen reaches all time high.
  
• ASX will see 2xxx
  
• Unemployment in Oz 9% and rising
  
• Australian bank profits turn to losses ala USA, Ireland, Britain etc with abysmal outlook for 2013 as another 8-10% wiped off house prices.
  
• 40% of Americans and 8% of Australians have 'underwater mortgages' or negative equity.
  
• US Debt over $17 trilion (thats a gimme)
  
• Gold over $2500 USD as QE3 is triggered following a late 2008 NYSE -30% replay, which puts a boost under stockmarkets, but little else as US unemployment U3 nudges 12% .
  
• Australia's Deficit increases as tax revenues dwindle
  
• Australian states get credit downgrades as the stamp duty money flow slows to trickle and their in massive deficits leading to massive cuts in state public servants.
  
• If Ron Paul doesn't get GOP nomination, No Hope Obama hits the front.
  
• AUD breaches 75c.
  
• Coin toss on Iran invasion as China declares alliance.
  
• Russia continues to take a more aggressive and militaristic stance towards the west with a possible China alliance (enemy of my enemy is my friend).
  
• Civil unrest climbs in the PIIGS and UK - soldiers used to keep it under control as civil war draws closer as unemplyment climbs, credit is frozen and austerity creates a depression.
  
• Le Pen and the far right take more dominant positions in France if not president Le Pen

Happy New Year!!

You may be right TP - but I hope you're wrong.

Still while the (european) sword of damocles is hanging over us it is prudent to prepare for the worst whilst hoping for the best.

In the absence of any of my own predictions just yet. (Apart from a retrospective prediction of my own hungoverness on new years day) I submit the following "other" mayan predictions.

The other Mayan calendar’s top 2012 predictions

Quote

Recently I unearthed an Ancient Mayan day-planner. On the cover were instructions to sacrifice a toothed hen or an Iowan who had never had his hand shaken by a political candidate. After some difficulty I located the hen.

As it turns out, there’s more to 2012 than just Dec. 21. They had all kinds of other predictions! Here are the top 15:

1.) Rick Santorum wins the presidential election after taking the time to have a cup of coffee with more than 200 million voters. When polled, voters express confidence that Santorum will be the best president to have for that “3 a.m. phone call,” if only because after consuming so much caffeine, he will be unable to sleep for the next four years.

2. ) Alternatively, Mitt Romney wins after changing his name to Not Not Not Not Not Not Romney and billing himself as the “most emphatically Not Romney” of all the candidates. (It is reassuring that even the Ancient Mayans had no idea how the Republican nominating process was going to work out.)

3.) We discover another new planet that is not capable of supporting human life but that proves strangely hospitable to Kardashians.

4.) After the purchase of the 1 billionth plaster owl at Urban Outfitters, hipsters realize that the very fact of hipsterdom has become mainstream and commit ritual seppuku en masse by drinking tainted PBR. (This is less a prediction than a hope.)

5.) Netflix somehow manages to screw up the only fail-safe business model still remaining by sending more offensive apology letters to its customers that begin, “So sorry that you are too fat and lazy to object to paying more money for no additional services.”

6.) The God particle is discovered. This baffles the Nietzsche particle.

7.) Michael Fassbender becomes famous enough that he starts appearing in movies with his pants on. The moviegoing public deserts him.

8.) Google, in an attempt to compete with Facebook, changes its famous search function to give you only results about yourself. Amazingly, this works.

9.) Barack Obama’s popularity continues to increase. No one can quite say why. Eventually it turns out that Newt Gingrich has been sitting on the lever.

10.) There is a breakthrough in e-reader technology: a portable reading device with no glare or battery probems that can withstand being dunked in water and that easily allows flipping back and forth from page to page. Made of paper. Called a book. No one buys it because you cannot use it to check your e-mail or live-tweet anything.

11.) People get sick of Twitter and decide that it is a waste of time. They do not stop using Twitter.

12) “War Horse” sweeps the Oscars on the sheer strength of a title that combines the two things most likely to win your motion picture an award.

13.) Everyone in Europe reaches an accord about the future of the euro and how to work together peaceably and collegially. The accord is summed up in the phrase “Forget it, the Ancient Mayans should be back here soon and we have no other ideas.”

14.) Kim Jong Eun attempts to take on Michelle Obama by creating his own health initiative, “Let’s Not Move And Also Let’s Eat Bacon.”

14.) Michael Phelps wins no medals in the London Olympics, marking the first time that anyone was surprised and disappointed that a guy who had spent the past four years eating large quantities of food and smoking controlled substances did not win an Olympic medal.

15.) Ancient Mayans return to Earth seeking to extract vengeance and destroy the planet. After taking one look at what Congress is doing, they shudder and turn away. “Never mind,” they mutter in ancient Mayan. “It seems as though you have this well in hand.”

[Bernard L. Madoff]

staringclown, on 02 January 2012 - 12:07 AM, said:

You may be right TP - but I hope you're wrong.

I'm a trend follower ALL but one (Gold) on that list are heading that way NOW, some in infancy some well established. I've put comments next to each as to my logic. Its pretty plain to see if you surf the informative sites and do some research.

• At least one Eurobank will fail as capital flight from the PIIGS increases in intensity. (Capital flight occurring now, banks insolvent and on ECB life support)
  
• Credit contagion and freeze. (TED Spread, Euribor etc rising now)
  
• Crash of various debt fuelled asset classes. (Stocks, property easing as credit freezes, economies stall and UE climbs are occurring now)
  
• China's manufacturing sector continues to contract (now 2 months running), their housing and debt sector collapses. (happening now at a rapid rate)
  
• Japanese economy on the verge of collapse as Yen reaches all time high.(happening now, this year they borrowed more than tax revenue for the first time)
  
• ASX will see 2xxx (Eurobank failure - replay of 2008)
  
• Unemployment in Oz 9% and rising (rising now as property prices fall)
  
• Australian bank profits turn to losses ala USA, Ireland, Britain etc with abysmal outlook for 2013 as another 8-10% wiped off house prices.(outcome of Property Prices falling another 8-10% plus credit freeze)
  
• 40% of Americans and 8% of Australians have 'underwater mortgages' or negative equity.(outcome of Property Prices falling another 8-10%)
  
• US Debt over $17 trilion (thats a gimme)(based on last 3 years debt growth and Obama's debt addiction and election year)
  
• Gold over $2500 USD as QE3 is triggered following a late 2008 NYSE -30% replay, which puts a boost under stockmarkets, but little else as US unemployment U3 nudges 12% . (based on late 2008, early 2009)
  
• Australia's Deficit increases as tax revenues dwindle (outcome of Property Prices falling another 8-10% and UE rising, CGT and PAYG revenues falling)
  
• Australian states get credit downgrades as the stamp duty money flow slows to trickle and their in massive deficits leading to massive cuts in state public servants. (outcome of Property Prices falling another 8-10%, Stamp Duty revenues dwindle)
  
• If Ron Paul doesn't get GOP nomination, No Hope Obama hits the front. (coin flip)
  
• AUD breaches 75c.(based on late 2008, early 2009 carry unwind, Risk OFF)
  
• Coin toss on Iran invasion as China declares alliance. (historical friendship established a long time ago, google it)
  
• Russia continues to take a more aggressive and militaristic stance towards the west with a possible China alliance (enemy of my enemy is my friend). (occurring now)
  
• Civil unrest climbs in the PIIGS and UK - soldiers used to keep it under control as civil war draws closer as unemplyment climbs, credit is frozen and austerity creates a depression.(starting to occur now as austerity bites)
  
• Le Pen and the far right take more dominant positions in France if not president Le Pen (starting to occur now)

[tor]

My only prediction is that I will save a whole load more now that I am single.

Still working through that, probably going to take a while.

[Easy Tiger]

tor, on 02 January 2012 - 07:33 AM, said:

My only prediction is that I will save a whole load more now that I am single.

Still working through that, probably going to take a while.

Sorry to hear that

[staringclown]

Bernard L. Madoff, on 02 January 2012 - 04:06 AM, said:

I'm a trend follower ALL but one (Gold) on that list are heading that way NOW, some in infancy some well established. I've put comments next to each as to my logic. Its pretty plain to see if you surf the informative sites and do some research.

• At least one Eurobank will fail as capital flight from the PIIGS increases in intensity. (Capital flight occurring now, banks insolvent and on ECB life support)
  
• Credit contagion and freeze. (TED Spread, Euribor etc rising now)
  
• Crash of various debt fuelled asset classes. (Stocks, property easing as credit freezes, economies stall and UE climbs are occurring now)
  
• China's manufacturing sector continues to contract (now 2 months running), their housing and debt sector collapses. (happening now at a rapid rate)
  
• Japanese economy on the verge of collapse as Yen reaches all time high.(happening now, this year they borrowed more than tax revenue for the first time)
  
• ASX will see 2xxx (Eurobank failure - replay of 2008)
  
• Unemployment in Oz 9% and rising (rising now as property prices fall)
  
• Australian bank profits turn to losses ala USA, Ireland, Britain etc with abysmal outlook for 2013 as another 8-10% wiped off house prices.(outcome of Property Prices falling another 8-10% plus credit freeze)
  
• 40% of Americans and 8% of Australians have 'underwater mortgages' or negative equity.(outcome of Property Prices falling another 8-10%)
  
• US Debt over $17 trilion (thats a gimme)(based on last 3 years debt growth and Obama's debt addiction and election year)
  
• Gold over $2500 USD as QE3 is triggered following a late 2008 NYSE -30% replay, which puts a boost under stockmarkets, but little else as US unemployment U3 nudges 12% . (based on late 2008, early 2009)
  
• Australia's Deficit increases as tax revenues dwindle (outcome of Property Prices falling another 8-10% and UE rising, CGT and PAYG revenues falling)
  
• Australian states get credit downgrades as the stamp duty money flow slows to trickle and their in massive deficits leading to massive cuts in state public servants. (outcome of Property Prices falling another 8-10%, Stamp Duty revenues dwindle)
  
• If Ron Paul doesn't get GOP nomination, No Hope Obama hits the front. (coin flip)
  
• AUD breaches 75c.(based on late 2008, early 2009 carry unwind, Risk OFF)
  
• Coin toss on Iran invasion as China declares alliance. (historical friendship established a long time ago, google it)
  
• Russia continues to take a more aggressive and militaristic stance towards the west with a possible China alliance (enemy of my enemy is my friend). (occurring now)
  
• Civil unrest climbs in the PIIGS and UK - soldiers used to keep it under control as civil war draws closer as unemplyment climbs, credit is frozen and austerity creates a depression.(starting to occur now as austerity bites)
  
• Le Pen and the far right take more dominant positions in France if not president Le Pen (starting to occur now)

I agree recession in europe is looking to be inevitable. It's the depth of it I was musing. Whether any further can kicking can be done. And exactly how elastic the link between china and europe/US will be. I've another week off yet so I'll need to look into it a bit more deeply. (DMOFR)

china - iran alliance is a bit scary. china - russia would be worse.

[staringclown]

tor, on 02 January 2012 - 07:33 AM, said:

My only prediction is that I will save a whole load more now that I am single.

Still working through that, probably going to take a while.

That is unhappy news. You doing OK?

[spark]

Bernard L. Madoff, on 01 January 2012 - 04:22 AM, said:

2012....

ASX will see 2xxx I would add Dow to see the ~6000 towards years' end


Gold over $2500 USD I would bet on around $800-$1000, mainly since everything (every potential disaster) is already "priced in"


AUD breaches 75c. My bet is still 1.2 for the USD and 1=1 for EUR.


Coin toss on Iran invasion as China declares alliance. Short but nasty war in the Middle East between Israel and an Iran around May-June 2012. Syria may side with Iran if Mr Assad is still around. Unless there is a severe escalation (too many civilian casualties on the Israeli side and/or New Egypt siding with Iran for whatever reason by whoever takes the power there) there will NOT be direct American intervention. Pragmatic China will keep out of it.


Australian property will continue its journey to the long time equilibrium of bringing about 6% yield, mainly due to falling prices, not to slightly rising rents. Say a fall around -10% during 2012, or about -1% per month.



Happy New Year!!

[cobran20]

Keiser Report: Outrageous Predictions for 2012

[tor]

Easy Tiger, on 02 January 2012 - 07:35 AM, said:

Sorry to hear that

staringclown, on 02 January 2012 - 08:26 AM, said:

That is unhappy news. You doing OK?

Yeah it sucks but has been a few days now and I think I have it under control. Mostly spending time on logistics now as stuff I haven't had to do for 11 years is now responsibility. Already the birds and possums and such are complaining quite vociferously at my incompetence.

[Bernard L. Madoff]

Bernard L. Madoff, on 02 January 2012 - 04:06 AM, said:

Coin toss on Iran invasion as China declares alliance. (historical friendship established a long time ago, google it)

Forgot to add..
China will defend Iran even if it means world war 3

Quote

Russia continues to take a more aggressive and militaristic stance towards the west with a possible China alliance (enemy of my enemy is my friend). (occurring now)

And...
Russia Retaliates Against US: Puts Radar Station On Combat Alert, Prepares To Take Out European Missile Defense Systems