It's like the beginning of hitchhikers guide to the galaxy where Ford convinces the construction worker to lay in front of the bulldozer instead of Arthur.
It's like the beginning of hitchhikers guide to the galaxy where Ford convinces the construction worker to lay in front of the bulldozer instead of Arthur.
I'm not really sure why the common reaction on social media is to meme this. Arguably, this is the most logical decision that's been made in this war yet. Allowing Iran to selectively blockade and...
I'm not really sure why the common reaction on social media is to meme this. Arguably, this is the most logical decision that's been made in this war yet. Allowing Iran to selectively blockade and charge tolls would change the entire Middle East dynamic with ramifications for any other natural waterway. Neighboring countries are against that. Europe is against that. You'll note that Europe hasn't actually proposed a solution despite the big meeting of non-US countries to discuss one lol. It's because there is no easy solution, so neutering Iran's advantage is at least one avenue that makes sense.
Except it isn’t really doing much to neuter Iran. Even if they sweep all the mines, Iran still has the threat of drones and ballistic missiles. The strait will open when Iran says so. The world...
Except it isn’t really doing much to neuter Iran. Even if they sweep all the mines, Iran still has the threat of drones and ballistic missiles. The strait will open when Iran says so. The world economy continues to suffer while the negotiations proceed. At most it removes oil revenues from Iran.
This doesn't directly open the Strait, but it stops Iran from gaining a benefit from it. Currently, Iran can allow its own ships, ships of allies, and ships that pay Iran to pass through. Removing...
This doesn't directly open the Strait, but it stops Iran from gaining a benefit from it. Currently, Iran can allow its own ships, ships of allies, and ships that pay Iran to pass through. Removing oil revenues from Iran is a big deal.
They have this country called “Russia” next to them that is more than happy to sell as much oil as they want, especially at higher prices. Or guns to shoot Ukrainians with. China’s purchase of...
They have this country called “Russia” next to them that is more than happy to sell as much oil as they want, especially at higher prices. Or guns to shoot Ukrainians with.
China’s purchase of Iranian oil is much more important to Iran than China. They’re not going to engage in naval warfare with the US over it, especially when the oil embargo actually strengthens their relative position in Southeast Asia.
Asia in general is desperately dependent on oil from the Middle East and China has already been offering diesel shipments for soft power reasons to countries in SEA.
I was under the impression that the mines blocked all traffic until removal. Mind sharing a source for allies of Iran passing through? I can certainly understand Iran continuing to export, but I...
I was under the impression that the mines blocked all traffic until removal. Mind sharing a source for allies of Iran passing through? I can certainly understand Iran continuing to export, but I was imagining their vessels bypassing, not navigating through the strait.
‘Tehran’s tollbooth’: a visual guide to how a trickle of ships still passes through strait of Hormuz They mined the Strait selectively and force ships to move in a path that puts them at even...
That article doesn't actually say they've mined the strait so far as I can see? I'd be surprised if they have, as the threat to mine it is a powerful bargaining chip that can only be played once,...
That article doesn't actually say they've mined the strait so far as I can see? I'd be surprised if they have, as the threat to mine it is a powerful bargaining chip that can only be played once, and which villifies iran. The strait is closed without its being mined anyway, so I don't see any value to having mined it already?
I'd say it's more likely the US is suggesting they already have precisely because the indiscriminate nature of such a move looks bad for Iran, where otherwise the narrative is one of sympathy with the blame landing largely with trump
Here's a different article: What do we know about sea mines in and around the Strait of Hormuz? Iran themselves claim the Strait is mined. And any bad PR from indiscriminate mining should be...
In a statement, the IRGC said all vessels must use the new map for navigation due to “the likelihood of the presence of various types of anti-ship mines in the main traffic zone”.
Iran themselves claim the Strait is mined. And any bad PR from indiscriminate mining should be outweighed by intentional targeting of ships trying to transit, but the nature of this war and our current President means that people are willing to overlook Iran's flaws in a way I couldn't have believed before. Trump truly is a terrible statesman to have made Iran win the PR war.
Iranian communications to the United Nations maritime authority and the experience of ships transiting the strait suggest the creation of something akin to a “toll booth.” Ships must enter Iranian waters and be vetted by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. At least two vessels have paid for passage.
That said this is unusual for the US and in general. You're just asking for an international incident where China or Russia pays the toll and then the US blockades the boat. I suspect that won't...
common reaction on social media
meh
That said this is unusual for the US and in general. You're just asking for an international incident where China or Russia pays the toll and then the US blockades the boat. I suspect that won't happen because this is all about proxy projection nonsense not actually kicking off WWIII, but it does probably lead to some dumb situation where a french or spanish (sorta....) tanker pays the toll and then gets blocked and kicks off another NATO fit.
The sorta there is because as many know "who's tanker is this" is a miserable game already that is going to give everyone headaches if this part escalates.
That said personally I see this as posturing because I suspect the plan is wait for the Bush to arrive and blow up all infrastructure.
Wait, this is actually happening? This isn't just something he fucking said cuz he's mad? In both/any/all meanings? Wow. Wooooooooow. This country is so cooked. (Let me doom for a bit, OK?)
Wait, this is actually happening? This isn't just something he fucking said cuz he's mad? In both/any/all meanings?
Wow. Wooooooooow. This country is so cooked. (Let me doom for a bit, OK?)
We didnt start the fire, its been burnin since the worlds been turning. All civilizations collapse. What goes up must come down Take your pick, but it doesn’t matter what Trump does, long as our...
We didnt start the fire, its been burnin since the worlds been turning.
All civilizations collapse.
What goes up must come down
Take your pick, but it doesn’t matter what Trump does, long as our government is being used as a machine to funnel tax money into the hands of the elite class its only a matter of time until theres no tax money left because the citizens starved to death.
Takes I have seen so far:
My humble offerings
It's like the beginning of hitchhikers guide to the galaxy where Ford convinces the construction worker to lay in front of the bulldozer instead of Arthur.
I suspect it'll work out about as well for us as it worked out for Arthur. See you on Earth 2!
So long, and thanks for all the fish!
Brilliant. If the USA blockades the strait directly, Iran can save a lot of money on mines!
Right, but they lose that from their protection racket falling apart, so revenue neutral in the end.
I'm not really sure why the common reaction on social media is to meme this. Arguably, this is the most logical decision that's been made in this war yet. Allowing Iran to selectively blockade and charge tolls would change the entire Middle East dynamic with ramifications for any other natural waterway. Neighboring countries are against that. Europe is against that. You'll note that Europe hasn't actually proposed a solution despite the big meeting of non-US countries to discuss one lol. It's because there is no easy solution, so neutering Iran's advantage is at least one avenue that makes sense.
Except it isn’t really doing much to neuter Iran. Even if they sweep all the mines, Iran still has the threat of drones and ballistic missiles. The strait will open when Iran says so. The world economy continues to suffer while the negotiations proceed. At most it removes oil revenues from Iran.
This doesn't directly open the Strait, but it stops Iran from gaining a benefit from it. Currently, Iran can allow its own ships, ships of allies, and ships that pay Iran to pass through. Removing oil revenues from Iran is a big deal.
What's gonna happen when China sends a ship through? World War 3?
Why would China send a ship through, knowing there is a blockade?
Because they buy 85% of Iran’s oil and they want that oil very much?
That oil is very nice for them sure, but if they expect the ship to be stopped by a blockade, they aren't getting that oil.
I mean, they still need oil.
They have this country called “Russia” next to them that is more than happy to sell as much oil as they want, especially at higher prices. Or guns to shoot Ukrainians with.
China’s purchase of Iranian oil is much more important to Iran than China. They’re not going to engage in naval warfare with the US over it, especially when the oil embargo actually strengthens their relative position in Southeast Asia.
Asia in general is desperately dependent on oil from the Middle East and China has already been offering diesel shipments for soft power reasons to countries in SEA.
I was under the impression that the mines blocked all traffic until removal. Mind sharing a source for allies of Iran passing through? I can certainly understand Iran continuing to export, but I was imagining their vessels bypassing, not navigating through the strait.
‘Tehran’s tollbooth’: a visual guide to how a trickle of ships still passes through strait of Hormuz
They mined the Strait selectively and force ships to move in a path that puts them at even higher risk of being shot at.
That article doesn't actually say they've mined the strait so far as I can see? I'd be surprised if they have, as the threat to mine it is a powerful bargaining chip that can only be played once, and which villifies iran. The strait is closed without its being mined anyway, so I don't see any value to having mined it already?
I'd say it's more likely the US is suggesting they already have precisely because the indiscriminate nature of such a move looks bad for Iran, where otherwise the narrative is one of sympathy with the blame landing largely with trump
Here's a different article: What do we know about sea mines in and around the Strait of Hormuz?
Iran themselves claim the Strait is mined. And any bad PR from indiscriminate mining should be outweighed by intentional targeting of ships trying to transit, but the nature of this war and our current President means that people are willing to overlook Iran's flaws in a way I couldn't have believed before. Trump truly is a terrible statesman to have made Iran win the PR war.
https://apnews.com/article/iran-hormuz-shipping-tolls-china-de5159966cde7de7b964b3c2c67eec07
It's ironic. But it makes sense.
That said this is unusual for the US and in general. You're just asking for an international incident where China or Russia pays the toll and then the US blockades the boat. I suspect that won't happen because this is all about proxy projection nonsense not actually kicking off WWIII, but it does probably lead to some dumb situation where a french or spanish (sorta....) tanker pays the toll and then gets blocked and kicks off another NATO fit.
The sorta there is because as many know "who's tanker is this" is a miserable game already that is going to give everyone headaches if this part escalates.
That said personally I see this as posturing because I suspect the plan is wait for the Bush to arrive and blow up all infrastructure.
Wait, this is actually happening? This isn't just something he fucking said cuz he's mad? In both/any/all meanings?
Wow. Wooooooooow. This country is so cooked. (Let me doom for a bit, OK?)
We didnt start the fire, its been burnin since the worlds been turning.
All civilizations collapse.
What goes up must come down
Take your pick, but it doesn’t matter what Trump does, long as our government is being used as a machine to funnel tax money into the hands of the elite class its only a matter of time until theres no tax money left because the citizens starved to death.
Whats on the news literally does not matter.