I agree with your description of the repeated, occasional smackdown. I believe it is happening in gold as well. First they hit silver and gold falls to some extent with it. Then they hit gold and silver (though not always) falls with the gold.

Anyone investing in the gold and silver paper markets had better be a superior trader or you will be played for a sucker. These guys know every position in the market. They know how much to sell, and when to sell, to effect their purpose. If you get good enough to anticipate them, they will know it and who you are and begin to anticipate you if you are big enough to matter.

If everyone quits playing in the sandbox with them it is easier for them to hold the price down. It is a game that can't be won until they are cleaned out by buyers who take physical delivery. The gold and silver suppliers (miners) should flat out refuse to sell into the market but ONLY to private mints where their product is processed and sold to the public bypassing the Comex, Tocom, et al. It is the only way to win the game. It will be very hard, if not impossible, to get people to cooperate in this. The PTB are doing all in their power to keep the price down and keep the gold and silver bullion away from the public without drawing the attention of the public. And, of course, the public is still asleep at this point. But their sleep is becoming more troubled and restless by the day.

The other way to win is just to wait until the treasury bonds or currencies fail. Then the currencies will become tied percentage-wise to gold. To effect that change gold will have to be revalued dramatically higher. This would be negotiated behind the scenes and could happen with great suddenness from the standpoint of the public. Hence being a trader has its dangers.

P.