Is “Dr. Copper” Foreshadowing A Stock Market Crash Just Like It Did In 2008?

Is the price of copper trying to tell us something?  Traditionally, "Dr. Copper" has been a very accurate indicator of where the global economy is heading next.  For example, back in2008 the price of copper dropped from nearly $4.00 to under $1.50 in just a matter of months.  And now it appears that another big decline in the price of copper is starting to happen.  So far this year, the price of copper has dropped from a high of $3.40 back in January to a price of $2.95 as I write this article, and many analysts are warning that this is just the beginning.  By itself, this should be quite alarming to investors, but as you will see below there are a whole host of other signs that a stock market crash may be rapidly approaching.

But before we get to those other signs, let us discuss copper a bit more first.  I cannot remember a time since 2008 when there has been such an overwhelming negative consensus about where the price of copper is heading.  The following is from a CNBC article that was posted this week...

Cascading copper prices have multiple root causes that lead to one conclusion: The anticipated global economic recovery may not be all it's cracked up to be.

Consequently, analysts are in virtual unison that the extended-term trajectory is lower for the metal often used as a growth barometer. Copper futures are off more than 12 percent in 2014 and 7 percent over just the past three days, though they rose less than 1 percent in Wednesday trading.

A slowdown in the global economy, forced selling by Chinese banks and technical factors have converged in multiple calls for more weakness in a commodity known by traders and economists as "Dr. Copper" for its ability to accurately make economic prognoses.

Of course there are some out there that are trying to claim that "this time is different" and that the price of copper is no longer a useful indicator for the global economy as a whole.

We shall see.

Meanwhile, there are lots of other signs that the financial markets are repeating patterns that we have seen in the past.  For instance, the level of margin debt on Wall Street just soared to another brand new record high...

The amount of money investors borrowed from Wall Street brokers to buy stocks rose for a seventh straight month in January to a record $451.3 billion, a potential warning sign that in the past has coincided with irrational exuberance and stock market tops.

We saw margin debt spike dramatically like this just prior to the crash of the dotcom bubble in 2000 and just before the great financial crisis of 2008.  Just check out the chart in this article.

Shouldn't we be alarmed that it is happening again?

If you listen carefully, there are many prominent voices in the financial world that are trying to warn us about this.  Here is one example...

"One characteristic of getting closer to a market top is a major expansion in margin debt," says Gary Kaltbaum, president of Kaltbaum Capital Management. "Expanding market debt fuels the bull market and is an investors' best friend when stocks are rising. The problem is when the market turns (lower), it is the market's worst enemy."

And of course margin debt is far from the only sign that indicates that we are in a massive stock market bubble that is about to crash.  The following is a list of 10 signs that comes from a recent article by Lance Roberts of STA Wealth Management...

I was recently discussing the market, current sentiment and other investing related issues with a money manager friend of mine in California. (Normally, I would include a credit for the following work but since he works for a major firm he asked me not to identify him directly.)  However, in one of our many email exchanges he sent me the following note detailing the 10 typical warning signs of stock market exuberance.

(1) Expected strong OR acceleration of GDP and EPS  (40% of 2013's EPS increase occurred in the 4th quarter)

(2) Large number of IPOs of unprofitable AND speculative companies

(3) Parabolic move up in stock prices of hot industries (not just individual stocks)

(4) High valuations (many metrics are at near-record highs, a few at record highs)

(5) Fantastic high valuation of some large mergers (e.g., Facebook & WhatsApp)

(6) High NYSE margin debt

Margin debt/gdp (March 2000: 2.7%, July 2007: 2.6%, Jan 2014: 2.6%)

Margin debt/market cap (March 2000: 1.8%, July 2007: 2.3%, Jan 2014: 2.0%)

(7) Household direct holdings of equities as % of total financial assets at 24%, second-highest level (data back to 1953, highest was 1998-2000)

(8) Highly bullish sentiment (down slightly from year-end peaks; still high or near record high, depending on the source)

(9) Unusually high ratio of selling to buying by corporate senior managers (the buy/sell ratio of senior corporate officers is now at the record post-1990 lows seen in Summer 2007 and Spring 2011)

(10) Stock prices rise following speculative press releases (e.g., Tesla will dominate battery business after they get partner who knows how to build batteries and they build a big factory.  This also assumes that NO ONE else will enter into that business such as GM, Ford or GE.)

All are true today, and it is the third time in the last 15 years these factors have occurred simultaneously which is the most remarkable aspect of the situation.

And for even more technical indicators such as these, please see Charles Hugh Smith's excellent article entitled "Why 2014 Is Beginning to Look A Lot Like 2008".

So do all of these numbers and charts actually prove that something is about to happen?

Not necessarily.

But if we do not learn from the past then we are doomed to repeat it.

At this point, even representatives from the big Wall Street banks are warning about the "euphoria" on Wall Street...

The stock market entered "euphoria mode" late last year and has remained there, except for a week in February, as "speculative froth" bubbles around the market's hottest sectors, Citi's chief equity strategist told CNBC on Tuesday.

And even market cheerleader Jim Cramer is warning that the stock market is now exhibiting "top behavior"...

The parabolic moves of stocks such as Plug Powerand FuelCell Energy have the stock market exhibiting "top behavior," CNBC's Jim Cramer said Wednesday.

Cramer said he has tracked the fuel cells stocks since his days as a hedge fund manager. Runups inFreddie Mac and Fannie Mae also had him worried.

None of what you just read above guarantees that the stock market will crash this week, this month or even this year.

And nobody knows the exact date when the next stock market crash will happen.

But one thing is for certain - this massive stock market bubble will burst at some point, and when it does our economy is far less equipped to handle it than it was the last time.

Based on my research, I am entirely convinced that the coming economic crisis is going to be substantially worse than the last one, and that is very bad news for the United States.

So what do you think?

Do you agree or do you think that I am nuts?

Please feel free to share your opinion by posting a comment below...

Credit to Economic Collapse

Last six months coldest since 1912

As things stand today, the U.S. has experienced the coldest six-month stretch since 1912 and if the country has a few more days with low temperatures, it may yet break that record.

Thus far, 77 percent of the country has been below normal temperatures since October 1. And the October thru March temperatures have been their coldest sine 1899.

On just one day in January, 49 record lows were set across the nation thanks to weather patterns pushed south by the polar vortex.

It will be months before the wide spread icepack on the Great Lakes melts, as well. Thus far this Winter the lakes are 88 percent iced over, far and above the average of 50 percent iced.



Credit to Breitbart

Russia risks 'massive damage' over Ukraine

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has issued a stark warning to Russia, saying it would suffer "massive" economic and political damage if it did not change its course over Ukraine.

In an address to the German Bundestag on Thursday, Merkel told politicians that the European Union was ready to impose sanctions if Russia refused to enter into diplomatic talks to end the crisis in Ukraine.

She said: "If Russia continues on its course of the past weeks, it will not only be a catastrophe for Ukraine. We would not only see it, also as neighbours of Russia, as a threat. And it would not only change the European Union's relationship with Russia.

"No, this would also cause massive damage to Russia, economically and politically."

Credit to Al Jazeera

GET BEHIND ME SATAN!

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Which False Flag Event Will Be Used to Usher In Martial Law?

Before World War III can be fought over Ukraine, Syria and Iran, the people must be brought to their knees because no rational person would participate in the coming world war. As I have pointed out in the three previous parts of this series, the specter of World War III is well within sight. The sides are drawn and the relative strengths of each side are established. Each side is jockeying for position as they will attempt to maneuver the other side into bringing their adversary to the battlefield of their choice. In short, the world is poised to begin a prolonged conflict which will destroy economies, devastate entire regions of the world and it will in all likelihood, kill billions of innocent people. The men behind the curtain will end the conflict at a time of their choosing in order to usher in their New World Order complete with a new global fiat currency, a supranational military force, complete authoritarian control and a justice system which deals decisively and brutally towards all dissenters. In short, all who participate in what is coming will actively contribute to their own demise. As with most societies which are being led to destruction, there is a very predictable course of events. A series of false flag events are initiated in order to usher in complete governmental control and all opposition is eliminated under martial law. And martial law normally precedes a war in which the citizens are forced to participate.

False Flag Event – Martial law – World War III.

The Endgame

Although this is a different topic for a different article, if one wonders what life will be like for those who survive the coming World War III and the preceding martial law, I would suggest reading everything you can get your hands on with regard to Agenda 21, for phase one, and transhumanism, for phase two of the New World Order. The question for this article is “Which false flag strategy will usher in martial law”?

False Flag Events Before Martial Law

Any discussion, except for the fact that false flag events are coming, is supposition to some degree. However, there is enough historical precedent in this area, to accurately determine that these coming events will follow a very narrow path of possibilities. The following represents my choices as the most likely candidates for the coming false flag attack as a prelude to martial law.

Currency Collapse By Cyber Attack

In large part, prepping is a spectator sport in that most of us enjoy watching others participate in it while we wonder which day we will begin to store food, water, guns and bullets. Last fall, DHS and FEMA participated in a series of cyber security drills in which the banks fell victim to a cyber attack and all banking records were destroyed. If you cannot prove how many computer digits you have in the bank, then you will own none of the computer digits. Americans will try to present paper records to prove their case, but the banks and the government will dismiss your paperwork as a fraud or lacking proof that you did not spend your money in between the time of your written bank statement and the cyber attack. In short, if you have your money in the bank, at the time of the collapse, you will effectively own nothing. You will have no way to pay your rent, mortgage and buy food. You will be at the complete mercy of the state. Famine will be the quick result of this kind of false flag attack. Hordes of looters will go house to house and neighborhood to neighborhood seeking life-sustaining resources. The need for martial law will be immediate. If you want to eat, you will go to a “community center” where you will be promised “three hots and a cot”. This represents how most people will be rounded up. A currency collapse set into motion by a cyber attack upon the banks is my number one choice as to the nature of the coming set of false flag attacks.

Currency Collapse Caused by a Stock Market Crash

This kind of crash would actually be quite simple to engineer as the super elite would simply have to simultaneously pull their money out of the market, as they did in 1929, and the overinflated market would sink like a lead balloon. A stock market collapse will destroy the banks thanks to the repeal of the Glass Steagall Act which prevented people from borrowing to get into the market. The related housing market would also collapse. Credit would quickly dry up and grocery chains and farmers alike will no longer be able to afford to ship food and all would go broke. Food would begin to rot on the farms. Famine would result along with the accompanying social chaos. The need to put the country under martial law for the protection of the citizens would become be welcomed . What did Kissinger say about controlling food and then controlling people? Currency collapse caused by a stock market collapse is my second choice.

Attacking the Power Grid

If the powers that be determine that an economic crisis would produce the panicked citizen reaction to a currency collapse, then a more dramatic plan of attack is needed. Taking down the power grid, according to both Congressman Trent Franks and the Naval War College would result in 90% of the country being dead within 24 months with 60% of the population dying off  within a year. An EMP attack would completely subjugate the country, but at what cost? The infrastructure would be destroyed and it would take years to rebuild. An EMP attack upon the power grid would be the act of an extreme psychopathic mind. Just when I was ready to dismiss this possibility, I began to think about the Hunger Games trilogy. A series of Capitol cities would exist in which the people would continue to struggle for survival. The basic blueprint for Agenda 21 would be in place as we witnessed in Suzanne Collins’ work. The major drawback to this event would be that if the intent was to create martial law as a prelude to World War III a destroyed infrastructure does not lend itself to a sustained war effort.

Chemical and/or Biological Attack

A series of chemical and/or biological attacks at select places around the country would leave the country healthy enough to fight a war, but also provide the excuse to usher in martial law. The disadvantage to this approach is that the puppet masters would have the task of controlling and maintaining secrecy among a large number of co-conspirators who would have to be eliminated. This kind of attack would open up the opportunity to get people into the new “community centers” (i.e. FEMA camps) for the purpose of obtaining life-saving vaccinations as well as food and water.T hat is when the real nightmare begins.

A Nuclear “Terrorist” Attack

At one time, this kind of event would have been high up on my list. However, the military is not in support of this and have worked to keep nuclear weapons out of the control of this administration which explains why over 260 senior military command officers have been fired by Obama including the entire leadership of the nuclear weapons program. Although this event remains a possibility, this event seems less likely as time goes on.

Conclusion

What do you say? What event(s) will usher in a new America which will quickly enter into martial law? Will you find yourself on the outside looking in, or the inside looking out? The next part of this series will detail what your daily life will be like in a society governed by martial law.

Credit to Common Sense

Another Trader Commits Suicide

For a market that is flirting with all time highs on a daily basis, the recent banker and trader suicide epidemic seems oddly out of place. And yet, it continues to claim even more victims, with the latest casuality being Edmund Reilly, 47, a trader at Midtown's Vertical Group, who as the Post reported, jumped in front of an LIRR train station yesterday at 6 am near the Syosset train station and was pronounced dead at the scene.

More:

A Manhattan trader was killed Tuesday morning by a speeding Long Island Rail Road commuter train, marking at least the seventh suicide of a financial professional this year.

Edmund (Eddie) Reilly, 47, a trader at Midtown’s Vertical Group, jumped in front of an LIRR train at 6 a.m. near the Syosset train station. He was declared dead at the scene.

Reilly’s identity was confirmed by Salvatore Arena, an LIRR spokesperson, who said an investigation into the incident was continuing.

Passengers on the west-bound express train told MTA investigators they saw a man standing by the tracks before he jumped in front of the train, Arena said.

“Eddie was a great guy,” Rob Schaffer, a managing director at Vertical, told The Post in an email. “We are very upset and he will be deeply missed.”

The divorced father of three had rented a house around the corner from his ex-wife, Michelle Reilly, in East Norwich, NY.

One family friend, who said he spoke to the trader on Sunday, told The Post that Reilly “didn’t look good.”

This latest death brings the recent banker death tally to 10:

1 - William Broeksmit, 58-year-old former senior executive at Deutsche Bank AG, was found dead in his home after an apparent suicide in South Kensington in central London, on January 26th.

2 - Karl Slym, 51 year old Tata Motors managing director Karl Slym, was found dead on the fourth floor of the Shangri-La hotel in Bangkok on January 27th.

3 - Gabriel Magee, a 39-year-old JP Morgan employee, died after falling from the roof of the JP Morgan European headquarters in London on January 27th.

4 - Mike Dueker, 50-year-old chief economist of a US investment bank was found dead close to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge in Washington State.

5 - Richard Talley, the 57 year old founder of American Title Services in Centennial, Colorado, was found dead earlier this month after apparently shooting himself with a nail gun.

6 - Tim Dickenson, a U.K.-based communications director at Swiss Re AG, also died last month, however the circumstances surrounding his death are still unknown.

7 - Ryan Henry Crane, a 37 year old executive at JP Morgan died in an alleged suicide just a few weeks ago.  No details have been released about his death aside from this small obituary announcement at the Stamford Daily Voice.

8 - Li Junjie, 33-year-old banker in Hong Kong jumped from the JP Morgan HQ in Hong Kong this week.

9 - James Stuart Jr, Former National Bank of Commerce CEO, found dead in Scottsdale, Ariz., the morning of Feb. 19. A family spokesman did not say whatcaused the death

10 - Edmund (Eddie) Reilly, 47, a trader at Midtown’s Vertical Group, commited suicide by jumping in front of LIRR train

Credit to Zero Hedge

Bank Runs in Crimea

While the sight of Russian flags, pro-Russian troops, and Russian navy ships in Crimea is now a day-to-day thing; this morning brings a new normal for the eastern Ukraine region - long lines at bank ATMs as the bank runs have begun. We noted last night the dreaded inversion of Ukraine's yield curve, the greater-than-50% yields on 3-month Ukraine government debt, and the pressures on local bank debt maturities as the ability to garner dollars cost-effectively was becoming a problem but on the heels of concerns by the head of the central bank that moving cash in Crimea was difficult, ATM withdrawal limits have been cut. People in long ATM lines are reported to be concerned because "banks are closing" but it is Deutsche Bank's comments this morning that raised many an eyebrow as they suggest that Ukraine's debt is pricing in a "burden-sharing" haircut for bondholders (which as we have seen in the past - in Cyprus - can quickly ripple up the capital structure and become a depositor haircut).

Quiet calm bank runs are beginning in Ukraine...

h/t @MarquardtA

As Deutsche Bank raises the prospect of bail-ins and Private-Sector-Involvement (PSI) in bailing-in the banks and government...

...given the recent experience of IMF programs it is natural to ask whether some form of 'private sector involvement' (PSI) will be proposed as part of any package of support.

The IMF itself recently published a consultation paper arguing that private sector debt restructurings had “often been too little, too late” and that the fund should look at ways to avoid its “resources eing used simply to bail out private creditors”. The ongoing consultation process which this paper nitiated is one reason why concerns over IMF-sponsored restructuring are more prevalent for Ukraine now than they have been in similar situations in the past. However, we think it unlikely that there will be  ignificant change in the Fund’s approach towards Ukraine, given that the consultation is still ngoing, views are divided and its outcome remains uncertain. Nevertheless, that does not mean that some form of PSI will not be considered, condoned, encouraged or even mandated and so it is useful to onsider the pros and cons from the perspective of the Ukraine (and its potential official sector inanciers) and the implications for private sector creditors.

[Of course PSI can take on many forms from debt-extensions to bondholder haircuts to further up the capital structure depositor haircuts]

...current market prices are relatively consistent with such a scenario of PSI-lite. Indeed, the current relative pricing of Ukrainian bonds are very unusual: the pricing of short-dated bonds are distressed, implying a relatively high probability that they won’t redeem at par, but on the other hand the narrow range of prices across the curve suggests that the market assumes a high recovery in the event of a default/restructuring.

Such pricing would be fair, considering a baseline scenario involving an IMF program and an orderly adjustment.However, it leaves little compensation for a more disorderly scenario. Tensions with Russia show no sign of abating and could escalate further. Also there is no guarantee that the new government has a strong enough popular mandate to carry through the necessary reforms. PM Yatseniuk has emphasized that the road ahead for Ukraine will not be easy, but only time will tell how united the country will be in following the path he intends to take.

We suspect a brand new populist PM is unlikely to remain in power long if depositor haircts were engaged - and would certainly not imbibe the eastern Ukraine region with the country's new leader.

Credit to Zero Hedge

Ukraine Appeals to UN to Stop Russian Annexation of Crimea

MOSCOW, March 13 (RIA Novosti) – Ukraine’s parliament has called on the United Nations to help resolve the crisis in Crimea as the region heads for a referendum on Sunday to secede from Ukraine and join Russia.

Ukrainian lawmakers adopted a resolution Thursday requesting an emergency special session of the UN Security Council in an appeal to the international community for what they say is a violation of international law by Moscow.

“We refer to the unprovoked act of aggression against Ukraine by Russia and its attempt to annex a part of the territory of a sovereign state,” said the resolution backed by 250 lawmakers, 24 over the required minimum of 226 votes.

Ukraine's parliament declared that under the principle of self-defense, acknowledged by the UN Charter, the country has a right to request help from other states or collective security organizations to restore its territorial integrity.

Any decision by the Security Council would be subject to approval by Russia, which, as an allied victor of World War II holds a permanent veto on the council.

The parliament of the majority Russian-speaking Crimea declared independence from Ukraine on Tuesday, adding in its statement that if the popular vote passes the country will become independent and will immediately request annexation by Moscow.

In Thursday’s resolution, Ukraine’s Supreme Rada said that despite attempts to resolve the conflict peacefully the situation in Crimea is deteriorating amid a flurry of activity by Russian military personnel operating in the country.

Troops lacking official insignia but carrying weapons and wearing uniforms used by the Russian military and understood to be under Russian command have taken control of military bases and key infrastructure on the peninsula in recent weeks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin denied the troops are Russian, calling them local militia.

Authorities in Kiev and international leaders have condemned the upcoming referendum in Crimea as illegitimate and lashed out at the Kremlin for violating international law in attempting to annex the region.

Putin said in a phone call with US President Barack Obama last week that Ukraine’s current government, brought to power by a revolution that ousted Yanukovych, was illegitimate.

The Russian leader said that “Russia cannot ignore [Crimea’s] appeals for help in this regard,” but that it would act in full compliance with international law.

Credit to RIA Novosti

United States on Wednesday accused China of raising tensions

The United States on Wednesday accused China of raising tensions by blocking two Philippines vessels as it urged freedom of navigation in the tense South China Sea.

The United States, a treaty-bound ally of Manila, said it was "troubled" by Sunday's incident in which China prevented movement of two ships contracted by the Philippine navy to deliver supplies and troops to the disputed Second Thomas Shoal.

"This is a provocative move that raises tensions. Pending resolution of competing claims in the South China Sea, there should be no interference with the efforts of claimants to maintain the status quo," State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

The Philippines on Tuesday summoned China's charge d'affaires, accusing Beijing of a "clear and urgent threat" to Manila's interests. Beijing countered that the ships "infringed China's territorial sovereignty" and violated a 2002 declaration of conduct in the South China Sea.

The United States rejected China's stance, saying that countries had the right to "regular resupply and rotation of personnel" to locations before the 2002 declaration.

The Second Thomas Shoal, which sits around 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the western Philippine island of Palawan, is claimed by the Philippines, China and Taiwan. Beijing calls it Ren'ai Reef.

Malaysia, Brunei and Vietnam claim other parts of the Spratly islands, which lie near vital sea lanes and rich fishing grounds and are also believe to sit on vast mineral resources.

The United States, while saying it takes no position on the sovereignty of disputed territories, has been increasingly robust in its criticism of China. Last month, the United States challenged the legal basis for China's claims over a vast area across the South China Sea.

The United States has been seeking to prevent China from taking more drastic action in the South China Sea. In November, China declared an Air Defense Identification Zone -- requiring planes to report to Beijing -- over a vast area in the East China Sea where it has a separate but intense feud over Japanese-administered islands.

Japan and the Philippines have accused China of making growing incursions to challenge their control over territories. US President Barack Obama will visit both Japan and the Philippines next month.




Credit to Space Daily

Some Air Force Cadets So Angry Over What Happened With Bible Verses on Campus They Have Staged a ‘Revolt’

The leader of a church-state separatist group says that there’s a “revolt” underway at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., after officials there removed a Bible verse from a white board outside a cadet’s bedroom door following complaints that its presence was offensive.

Cadets angry over the Air Force Academy’s removal of the verse have since begun posting scripture from the Bible and the Koran on their whiteboards in solidarity, said Mikey Weinstein, president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.

“The Air Force Academy has a revolt on their hands. What are they going to do?” Weinstein told TheBlaze Wednesday.

Bible and Koran verses are being posted on cadets’ doors at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado (Image via Military Religious Freedom Foundation)

The Bible battle started after an unnamed cadet placed text from Galatians 2:20 on a whiteboard. It read, “I have been crucified with Christ therefore I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.”

Weinstein said 29 cadets and four faculty and staff members — 26 of whom he described as Catholic or Protestant — disagreed with the verse’s presence and reached out to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation to complain. Weinstein then contacted the Air Force Academy with concerns and the verse was subsequently removed.

“Had it been in his room — not a problem. It’s not about the belief. It’s about the time, the place and the manner,” Weinstein told conservative commentator Todd Starnes this week. “It clearly elevated one religious faith over all others at an already virulently hyper-fundamentalist Christian institution. It massively poured fundamentalist Christian gasoline on an already raging out-of-control conflagration of fundamentalist Christian tyranny, exceptionalism and supremacy at [the academy].”

Weinstein said posting verses outside a bedroom door is unacceptable and illegal because that’s part of the “working squadron area” — a central and public location where cadets assemble.

But it seems some at the academy disagreed with both the removal and with the activist’s assessment of the situation.


Image via Military Religious Freedom Foundation

Weinstein shared an email with TheBlaze he said came from an unnamed agnostic cadet at the school highlighting the action that’s now underway.

“After the Fox News article was released about the Bible verse being removed from a cadet’s whiteboard, a population of the cadet wing has in turn responded with addition religious quotes placed outside their doors in the public hallways; one of which being the original quote that was removed,” the cadet’s alleged letter read.


Image via Military Religious Freedom Foundation

It continued, “Theses posts, quotes, and comments on social media have created a hostile environment and have lead to a decrease in unit cohesion and morale and are unprofessional in the military environment.”

Weinstein is now calling on the Air Force Academy to take action against those individuals who are posting scripture messages outside their doors, though he indicated that he isn’t sure how widespread the problem is.

“It’s a toxic environment there,” Weinstein said of the academy. “When you have a law that is followed more in its breach than in its compliance … it’s worse than if you didn’t have the law at all.”


Image via Military Religious Freedom Foundation

Weinstein cited an Air Force culture standards document which outlines how faith and religion should be handled within the Air Force.


2.11. Government Neutrality Regarding Religion. Leaders at all levels must balance constitutional protections for an individual’s free exercise of religion or other personal beliefs and the constitutional prohibition against governmental establishment of religion. For example, they must avoid the actual or apparent use of their position to promote their personal religious beliefs to their subordinates or to extend preferential treatment for any religion. Commanders or supervisors who engage in such behavior may cause members to doubt their impartiality and objectivity. The potential result is a degradation of the unit’s morale, good order, and discipline. Airmen, especially commanders and supervisors, must ensure that in exercising their right of religious free expression, they do not degrade morale, good order, and discipline in the Air Force or degrade the trust and confidence that the public has in the United States Air Force.

Weinstein said those who put Bible verses on their doors deserve “non-judicial punishment at the very least.”

Those who are put on trial for specific violations in the Air Force could see their pay docked, be kicked out or even go to jail, he said, though there is no indication that these ramifications would apply in this particular case.

Weinstein is willing to take the Air Force Academy to court if the issue isn’t resolved.


Image via Military Religious Freedom Foundation

Air Force Academy spokesman Lt. Col. Brus Vidal told Starnes regarding officials’ removal of the first cadet’s verse, there was no misconduct and that the unnamed cadet won’t be punished.

He said there’s a “gray area” when it comes to one’s personal room and the hallway, where the message was posted.

“The whiteboards are for both official and personal use, but when a concern was raised we addressed it and the comment was taken down,” Vidal said.

Weinstein disagreed, saying that the incident showed “absolute misconduct” and that the individual should be punished.

Other legal analysts take a different stance on the matter.


Image via Military Religious Freedom Foundation

“If the cadet didn’t violate any rules, then why was the quote removed?” Michael Berry, senior counsel for the conservative legal firm the Liberty Institute’s said in a statement. “It appears that the Air Force now believes Bible verses are a violation of AFI 1-1.”

Credit to The Blaze