It’s NOT a Conspiracy

WestExec and Biden Were you forwarded this email? [Sign-up to The Daily Reckoning here.]( [Unsubscribe]( [Daily Reckoning] It’s NOT a Conspiracy - Occam’s Razor and conspiracy theories… - Groupthink is a threat to national security… - The world’s three largest economies may be squaring off for the most destructive war since World War II… Recommended Link [This Amendment could cause a Stock Market explosion…]( [Read more here...]( The Dawn of Socialism is at hand here in America… And its trigger lies in the details of one Constitutional Amendment set to cause havoc in our country. This is why I’ve put together a special briefing detailing my prediction… [See My Biggest Prediction Of My Career]( Portsmouth, New Hampshire July 12, 2021 [Jim Rickards]Dear Reader, Philosophers and analysts use a principle called Occam’s Razor (sometimes Ockham’s Razor) to solve difficult problems. It says that when you are confronted with two possible solutions to a problem, one complicated and one simple, it’s usually better to select the simple solution. There’s always some attraction to the complicated solution because humans like intrigue and plot twists. But statistically, the simple solution is more likely to be correct and therefore the one that analysts should prefer unless contrary evidence presents. This approach is useful in dealing with conspiracy theories. Yes, real conspiracies exist (such as the plot to assassinate JFK), and analysts must be alert to the possibility. But most so-called conspiracies have much simpler explanations that are more likely to be correct. One of the most potent drivers of coordinated political action is not a deep, dark conspiracy. It’s usually just the result of like-minded individuals cooperating to achieve the same goal. It’s Groupthink, Not Conspiracy If the political players all think alike and agree on goals, you don’t need a conspiracy. Just let them go to work every day and communicate with each other, and you’ll get the coordinated result without the inevitable twists and turns of a conspiracy. That’s a good thing to bear in mind when considering the current administration. 23, top Biden administration officials all worked at the same consulting firm called WestExec Advisors. These officials include Press Secretary Jen Psaki, Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines. For those who may be unfamiliar, “WestExec” is a reference to West Executive Avenue, a non-public road that runs between the West Wing of the White House and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The West Wing is not that large and only has a few choice offices plus the Situation Room, the Roosevelt Room (for larger meetings) and the Cabinet Room, which is smaller. Most officials who say they “work in the White House” actually work in the Eisenhower Building, which means they walk across West Executive Avenue when they have meetings with top Biden officials. The WestExec Advisors name is a play on that kind of insider status of the long list of former WestExec principals who are now running the country. (Don’t look to Biden as the source of power; he’s not mentally competent and does what the WestExec crowd or the rest of the Biden family tell him to do). Recommended Link [Warning: Potential Dollar Firestorm Ahead]( [Read more here...]( A former advisor to the CIA and Pentagon has just made a shocking discovery he wants to share with you. The stunning fact it reveals suggests a possible firestorm ahead for the U.S. dollar… With potentially catastrophic consequences. [See What He's Uncovered Here]( A Threat to National Security So, with all of this power emerging from one firm, does that mean there’s a conspiracy among the alums to control the world? Not really. But, it points to a bigger problem, which is the lack of cognitive diversity. The WestExec crowd all went to top schools, had top jobs in previous administrations, exhibit high IQs, and boast lots of credentials. If you look at their resumes, you’ll see they all went to the same schools, had the same professors and pursued the same career paths. With few exceptions, it’s all Harvard, Yale and Columbia with a small dose of Stanford or Chicago for good measure. They all went to law school or got PhDs and worked for the same small set of law firms or consulting firms. Then they all worked in a small set of government agencies, including the State Department, National Security Council or the Intelligence Community. They all think alike. That’s an acute weakness because if they all look at things the same way, they will all miss the real dangers coming that don’t fit into their mental molds. Lack of cognitive diversity is a fatal weakness. As a leader, you should always be willing to lower the average IQ if it means you can increase the range of viewpoints. At least someone might point out it’s raining to a group that’s too buried in briefing books to look out the window. This uniform mindset is itself a danger to national security. Sooner than later, a threat will arise that none of them will see coming. On the Verge of the Most Destructive War Since WWII? And there’s no shortage of threats in the world. Perhaps the most pressing right now is China’s aggressive posturing in East Asia. It’s not just China and the U.S. The world’s three largest economies — the U.S., China and Japan — may be squaring off for the most destructive and costly war since the end of World War II. The main protagonists will be China and the U.S. The cause of war will be a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, which may be coming much sooner than the world expects. China would start the war with an invasion across the Taiwan Strait. The U.S. would be obliged to come to the defense of Taiwan and take measures to disable the Chinese fleet and its air support. But, Japan is no bystander. Recommended Link [The Truth? You can actually choose…to BE RICH]( [Read more here...]( I’m not talking about wishing, hoping, or believing that a miracle is coming your way. I’m talking about making a choice, setting a course of action, and then going out and making it happen. I make that choice every single day. And I believe you can actually achieve it. If you want to make the choice to be rich – here are three things you can do today: - Commit to getting financially educated. - Be ready to let go of the old-school financial advice you’ve been taught. - Join me for a free training this week. (It’s 100% FREE for you this week) [Click Here To Join Now]( A glimpse at a map shows that if Taiwan were in Communist China’s hands, Japan’s own sea lanes would be threatened, including its access to imported oil. Japan has its own island disputes with China. If China were to capture Taiwan, Japan’s islands in the East China Sea would likely be the next to fall. The U.S. could fall back to a line of islands, including Guam, Hawaii and the Aleutians, but no fallback is possible for Japan. If China seizes Taiwan and the U.S. falls back, Japan would be under the thumb of China, and they know it. Of course, a fallback by the U.S. would be an enormous blow to U.S. credibility, as well as its economic power. That’s why an alliance of the U.S. and Japan against China to defend Taiwan (along with Taiwan’s own formidable defense capability) is the most likely response to a Chinese amphibious assault. “Wolf Warrior” Diplomacy The question for the world is whether China will get the message and refrain from attacking Taiwan. Unfortunately, signs point in the opposite direction. China has left its non-threatening style of diplomacy in the past. Today, China pursues “Wolf Warrior diplomacy,” named after a popular Chinese movie that features aggressive Navy SEAL-style tactics as practiced by Peoples’ Liberation Army commandos. China has come out of its shell and seeks regional hegemony to be followed by global hegemony. It is aggressively pushing on its neighbors in India, Myanmar, and the six nations that surround the South China Sea. Taiwan is the prize, and China is preparing to seize it. This attack will be Xi Jinping’s legacy and his attempt to rival the reputation of Mao Zedong. Will Team Biden be able to see it coming? U.S. investors should not take Chinese restraint for granted. Allocations to cash, gold and U.S. Treasury notes will preserve wealth when the worst happens. Regards, Jim Rickards for The Daily Reckoning P.S. Last month I went live to share details on a massive cross-borders conflict that’s quietly taking place. This news was broadcasted from the new computerized Tactical Operations Center that my team and I designed and built for the impending power struggle… More importantly — [I revealed my proprietary secret]( for profiting from this massive daily flow of capital. And, of the over 100,000 signups, a few hundred lucky attendees were able to join me in my brand-new V.I.P. membership. Now I’m launching the next step in this project… You can join me with my brand-new Charter Membership by [clicking here.]( I’ve got to warn you though… This membership is only for folks serious about learning how to make money using my $6.6 trillion discovery. [Click here for details.]( Furthermore, the Charter Membership will only be available for a limited-time. That means… If you don’t get in now, I can’t guarantee you’ll ever get this opportunity again. So if you want in on my $6.6 trillion secret, [click here to learn more.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for reading The Daily Reckoning! We greatly value your questions and comments. Please send all feedback to [feedback@dailyreckoning.com.](mailto:dr@dailyreckoning.com) [James Rickards][James G. Rickards]( is the editor of Strategic Intelligence. He is an American lawyer, economist, and investment banker with 35 years of experience working in capital markets on Wall Street. He is the author of The New York Times bestsellers Currency Wars and The Death of Money. Add feedback@dailyreckoning.com to your address book: [Whitelist us]( Additional Articles & Commentary: [Daily Reckoning Website]( Join the conversation! 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