News Wrap - Iran and Yahoo Feel the Heat

Well, oil started the week moving in the wrong direction, according to "The Greek's" view anyway, as expressed in "The Greek's Week Ahead - Linens 'n Nothing." Actually, we warned that the ECB is more likely to raise rates then to cut, and that a move like that would kill the recent dollar rally. That little piece we authored got a lot of coverage this weekend, so maybe blame me folks...

Hey, we warned about Iran again too you know, but we didn't think anybody was reading. Apparently, the Supreme Leader of Iran spends some time at The Greek though. A U.S. General might have been reading also, since he said that it would be difficult for America to engage Iran now, due to hostilities in Iraq and Afghanistan. There are more smoke and mirrors at play here than in the House of Horrors at your local carnival.

Remember, it's not the U.S. who is going to engage Iran (according to us), initially anyway, it's Israel. The good old U.S. of A. is just going to be sticking around the Persian Gulf for awhile in order to keep Iran in check after Israel makes a mess of the neatly stacked dirt piles that adorn the country. What did you expect from a Greek talking about Persia... My dear Ayatollahs, please save the fatwas for better use, and take joy in the knowledge that The Greek is already dying a more horrible death than you can imagine, death by starvation.

Here's the problem with the American plan (reminder, that includes me)... What if Iran goes ballistic (maybe literally) and acts perhaps irrationally. Remember, this is a country led by unsophisticated (in terms of military strategy) aged religious gentlemen (lexicon to avoid fatwas) who sent unarmed children to the front line against Iraq, suggesting they pick up the weapons of dead soldiers to fight with. I think it's safe to say that you can expect the unexpected when it comes to Iran. Surprise is commonplace in war too, lest we forget, and Iran has had years to prepare for what's ahead, since G.W. publicly classified the country within the "Axis of Evil." But, I'm thinking George wants to wait until after the wedding before shooting em up again.

Microsoft Cuts Yahoo's String

Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) cut the string that Yahoo (Nasdaq: YHOO) was leading them along by. Of course they were!.. and today's stock drop in YHOO told you why. Jerry Yang, Yahoo!'s CEO was sickened by the possibility of selling out to his arch enemy, so he simply used the opportunity to play games with the boys in Seattle. The longer he strung MSFT along, the longer he could keep his company's stock out of the teens (less than $5 off that now), while he desperately moved to create value.

Microsoft finally figured out Yang's game, and will now allow the popular press and activist investors to turn the heat up on Jerry as YHOO's price comes under pressure. I like this Yang fellow though... He's got steel gonads (it's a blog, relax! Nobody knows what that word means anyway...) and a cool poker face. Hey Jerry, give me a ring; love to chat and I might have some solid advice too. Don't worry Jerry, it's at the usual price of a couple potatoes. Nobody likes to pay writers these days... so will work for potatoes... Heck, the Ayatollah's could probably buy me out for a five pound bag at this point. (not really, relax!)


Please see our disclosure at the Wall Street Greek website.