The U.K. refuses to release for independent examination any of the evidence that would link the Skirpal poisoning to Russia. As such, we can only assume that Russia was meant to be the scapegoat. Same deal with the chemical attack in Syria. There's a complete lack of evidence that would connect the incident to any specific perpetrator. But the U.S. seems satisfied that a case built on no-evidence hear-say and western media headlines proves the allegations.
Amazingly, some of neo-cons at Fox News are now questioning the legitimacy and motives for U.S. belligerence toward Russia using Syria as the "host." Tucker Carlson went nuts on the idea, which is surprising because Fox typically is pro-war against anyone and anything without bona fide cause and for any reason:
Perhaps of more concern is the analysis presented by Paul Craig Roberts, who has a little more experience in DC politics and Government policy advisement than anyone in the cable media:
No sign this morning of Washington coming to its senses. Zero Hedge reports that Trump is canceling his trip to Peru's Summit of the Americas in order to oversee the US attack on Syria. If the attack is real and not merely a hit at an unimportant target for PR effect, war could be upon us..."War With Russia Approaching" and "On The Threshold Of War."
Let's hope saner minds somehow prevail in DC, though I'm not sure where those brain cells might reside. With a debt-riddled and a larger "explosion" than the one that hit in 2008 percolating throughout the U.S. financial system, it seems that Washington's policy alternative of choice is, "when all else fails, start a war."
The insane intra-day and inter-day volatility in the stock market is the primary signal that the system is spinning out of control. The "trade war" narrative is strictly cosmetic. The market turmoil reflects the conflict between the extreme inert overvaluation of financial assets and the money sloshing around in the hands of perma-bullish traders who never experienced a market collapse. The drum-beat of war - trade and military - is meant to deflect the public's attention from the underlying economic reality.
I would suggest that this is why gold is moving higher despite the overt effort by the Fed/banks to suppress the price and the overwhelming negative investor sentiment toward gold.