Two stories collide here: a call to pull US troops out of the Middle East, and a rush into gold and silver as worries about the dollar grow — bad news for the military mission and for the dollar, good for metals holders.

• US troops in the region were moved off known bases and scattered into hotels and civilian areas, making them targets while doing no real job.
• Some Iranian strikes that were reported as hits on civilians actually landed where American troops were housed.
• One airman who spent 10 months in the war zone took his own life shortly after coming home, fueling calls to bring everyone back.
• Gold jumped again and silver is running, with some calls for silver far above today's price.
• The metals move is driven by fear over what happens to the dollar when Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent rolls out a new bond plan after Labor Day.

Outlook: Pressure to withdraw troops will keep building, and money is likely to keep flowing into gold and silver while the dollar looks shaky.