” The question I have is this, what will force the JP Morgans to cover their short positions at Comex and drive the paper prices higher? ”

BG, maybe you answered your question with your 2nd paragraph..they precipitated the crash in the markets,( which is completely plausible to me)  and  naked shorted miners ad nauseum and fiddled around with paper gold (hence the disconnect to physical) so they can cover PM shorts at lower prices and when they damn well feel like it.