reuters.com
www.reuters.com
  • Aceticon@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    0·
    4 days ago

    What’s next: America blowing up its own bases in the Middle East? Killing its own soldiers? Crashing its own planes?

  • gdog05@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    4 days ago

    There are a lot of people who want this level of destabilization and interruption of goods and energy security. Techno feudalists want this. Trump needs to feel powerful, so someone like Peter Theil who is trying to bring about Armageddon could easily convince Trump that this move makes him look powerful instead of a target by the rest of the world.

  • GalacticSushi@piefed.blahaj.zoneEnglish
    0·
    4 days ago

    I think he’s just pissed off that Iran is letting Chinese ships thorough. So now the question is whether Trump is stupid and deranged enough to attack any Chinese ships that ignore this illegal blockade, which would probably kick off World War 3 in earnest.

    • brucethemoose@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      4 days ago

      That’s not Xi’s style. I don’t think he’d try unless he wants a plausible excuse to kick off a Taiwan assault.

      …And, as far as my understanding goes, if Xi wants to do it, now would be an optimal time. Wait any longer, and Taiwan will just get more fortified.

    • NotSteve_@lemmy.caEnglish
      0·
      4 days ago

      If it broke out in WW3 then I think most of the world’s public support would be behind China. The US has always been a hostile bully but Americans generally kept it contained to poorer countries that didn’t have as much of a voice. Now though…

  • jacksilver@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    4 days ago

    Im surprised by the comments here, this was an obvious outcome of Iran dictating that only Iranian interests could use the strait. The only real move for the US is to block all traffic (or at least all traffic heading to Iran). Why would the US allow Iran to continue to sell oil while Iran is destroying other ships.

    I’m sure the GCC have no issue with this policy, and it doesn’t really change the situation for most other US aligned countries as they weren’t buying Iranian oil for the most part anyways. No one wants Iran to be able to charge for access to the Strait and this would put pressure on the to find a more agreeable end to the conflict.

    Not supporting either side, just stating that this is a reasonable strategic move for the US.

    • humanspiral@lemmy.caEnglish
      0·
      4 days ago

      Why would the US allow Iran to continue to sell oil while Iran is destroying other ships.

      To keep oil prices from rising too high, with whole countries running dry. While GOP will portray it as 100% democrats fault, west coast runs out of jet fuel in a week or so.

      Something Iran can do to force GCC to demand an end to war within 10 days is to destroy all desalination infrastructure

      No one wants Iran to be able to charge for access to the Strait and this would put pressure on the to find a more agreeable end to the conflict.

      It is a legal response to an illegal war. Reparations paid to Iran (normally by US) that US adoring colonies can pay instead would satisfy Iran’s revenue generation/compensation rationale.

    • ✺roguetrick✺@lemmy.worldEnglish
      0·
      4 days ago

      Because the US cannot both declare freedom of navigation as the most important part of the straight while also blockading non-US allies which they’ve explicitly threatened to do. If you approach it from a realpolitik angle like you are right now, then it justifies Iran’s actions in closing the straight from that very perspective. The US will not get to have it both ways. Either Iran was justified in closing the straight in response to US aggression or the US is violating international law and general principles of trade.

      • jacksilver@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        4 days ago

        You make it sound like blockades are not common events during a war. Just cause the US is blockading the strait right now doesn’t negate their desire for free passage in the future.

        Additionally, if people didn’t think Iran was justified in closing the strait (due to a war) then they probably wouldn’t be negotiating with them for access.

        This is what happens during war, both sides look for ways to create pressure on the other to force them to the table. Iran is fighting an uphill battle so needs to turn people against the US by limiting oil shipments, but that doesn’t mean the US is just going to let them keep selling their oil.

  • rwrwefwef@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    0·
    4 days ago

    “Effective immediately, the ​United States Navy, the Finest in ​the World, will begin the process of BLOCKADING ‌any ⁠and all Ships trying to enter, or leave, the Strait of Hormuz,”

    Or what?

  • finallymadeanaccount@lemmy.worldEnglish
    0·
    4 days ago

    Is it my imagination, or is that stretch of water and the water surrounding it not US territory, thus making what he wants to do (interdict) kind of … piracy?