JOESIXPACK, It didn't start earlier likely because just like a horse race, this has a stamina component. If they threw it all on the table at once at the beginning, they're shot and done and if it didn't work, it's over. Like most good market manipulators, IMO they paced themselves accordingly to continue a drawn out process that wears down longs over time. As I said, their two allies are 1) investor impatience and 2) the fact that things always take longer to develop than expected. It wouldn't have mattered which way they went IMO, but it looks like they are choosing the "wear them down" path. It will induce much selling over time, but IMO not nearly enought to even make a dent in the short position.
Z
As always, these are my personal opinions.
Hopefully nobody in here is investing anything but "fun" money that they can afford to gamble with.