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What I'm confused about is countries like the Saudis, Kuwait, United Emirate, etc. consider Iran a grave danger to the rest of the region. They want the US to destroy that threat. So, why don't we get them to start funding the war if that's what they want? With all their money it should be a done deal.
Every time I laugh, cough, or sneeze, my radiator leaks or my exhaust backfires.
Re: Strait of Hormuz
[Re: Savell]
#8591728 Yesterday at11:27 AMYesterday at11:27 AM
I will declare from the outset that I am not an expert and am, honestly, not spending a lot of my time watching the news or pondering these events at all. Nevertheless, here are some things I'm considering in this arena:
The US has been the global superpower since WWII-ish. In large part, this was because of our wealth and industrial capacity, which allowed us to build and maintain a large military, backed by big, expensive, high-powered, equipment/assets - jets, missiles, carriers, etc. However, technology is rapidly advancing, and now very high-tech, AI-powered, low-cost, and unmanned equipment are available everywhere, and that cheap high-tech equipment can still do a lot of damage to our expensive high-powered military. Thus, the US's advantage in the military arena has been lessened. It's a David-and-Goliath situation, and we're not David. Nations like China are beginning to look like they could become actual rivals to US global dominance rather than minor competitors or upstarts (there are of course other reasons for this, but we can stick to military might for now). This means that we are in a tech/AI race similar to the space race. In order to maintain our superpower status we must stay ahead on AI and other technology.
However, as cheap and available as all this new tech is, it still requires raw materials and fossil fuels to manufacture and operate. By controlling the supply of materials, the US can perhaps keep the upper hand. Hence, the US interest in Greenland, which can supply rare earth metals in addition to other strategic benefits, and Canada. An oil-rich location would make an excellent 51st state. Supposedly there were some gov't reps talking to Alberta separatists hoping to cut a deal. The US also recently...made changes...in its relationship to Venezuela, another oil-rich nation relatively close to home.
50% of China's oil comes through the Strait of Hormuz, and now it's closed. As much as that may hurt the US by raising gas prices, it'll hurt China a lot more. We'll see high prices in the US, but eastern countries will likely see shortages and rationing (some beginning already).
Like I said, I know almost nothing. Just trying to put more puzzle pieces together wondering if there is a larger strategy behind it all. The rhetoric and talking points on the news is where the at-home politics game is played, keeping the base happy or at least committed, blaming the right bad guys, offering the right amount of optimism and justifications and distractions, etc. I suspect the real game is likely happening at the global scale and is less likely to be discussed openly by any officials.
All you other experts can now feel free to rebuke or correct me as needed.
I will declare from the outset that I am not an expert and am, honestly, not spending a lot of my time watching the news or pondering these events at all. Nevertheless, here are some things I'm considering in this arena:
The US has been the global superpower since WWII-ish. In large part, this was because of our wealth and industrial capacity, which allowed us to build and maintain a large military, backed by big, expensive, high-powered, equipment/assets - jets, missiles, carriers, etc. However, technology is rapidly advancing, and now very high-tech, AI-powered, low-cost, and unmanned equipment are available everywhere, and that cheap high-tech equipment can still do a lot of damage to our expensive high-powered military. Thus, the US's advantage in the military arena has been lessened. It's a David-and-Goliath situation, and we're not David. Nations like China are beginning to look like they could become actual rivals to US global dominance rather than minor competitors or upstarts (there are of course other reasons for this, but we can stick to military might for now). This means that we are in a tech/AI race similar to the space race. In order to maintain our superpower status we must stay ahead on AI and other technology.
However, as cheap and available as all this new tech is, it still requires raw materials and fossil fuels to manufacture and operate. By controlling the supply of materials, the US can perhaps keep the upper hand. Hence, the US interest in Greenland, which can supply rare earth metals in addition to other strategic benefits, and Canada. An oil-rich location would make an excellent 51st state. Supposedly there were some gov't reps talking to Alberta separatists hoping to cut a deal. The US also recently...made changes...in its relationship to Venezuela, another oil-rich nation relatively close to home.
50% of China's oil comes through the Strait of Hormuz, and now it's closed. As much as that may hurt the US by raising gas prices, it'll hurt China a lot more. We'll see high prices in the US, but eastern countries will likely see shortages and rationing (some beginning already).
Like I said, I know almost nothing. Just trying to put more puzzle pieces together wondering if there is a larger strategy behind it all. The rhetoric and talking points on the news is where the at-home politics game is played, keeping the base happy or at least committed, blaming the right bad guys, offering the right amount of optimism and justifications and distractions, etc. I suspect the real game is likely happening at the global scale and is less likely to be discussed openly by any officials.
All you other experts can now feel free to rebuke or correct me as needed.
Interesting post. Thanks.
Gotta find a way, a better way, I'd better wait
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not after you
You're likely not wrong on the China angle. But,......confirmed yesterday, 3 Chinese ships exited the strait.
Also, you're incorrect on the 50% of Chinese oil. Stating 40-50 % of imported oil would be more accurate. In terms of total energy consumption out of China, the % is far lower than that. China has maybe been preparing for this day, far more than the rest of us.
Also, any hiccup in the energy costs out of China will surely be passed to all of us, unless we are to avoid anything out of China moving forward.
Ukraine has increased their drone production from 2000 annually to 4 million
Pretty scary stuff when multiple drones can work a target in unison, like a swarm of bees
The drones are being made in Ukraine, but most of the engineering behind them is ours. That's why Russia is struggling trying to ramp up to less than 1/10th that number.
if its our enginering why do ours cost somuchmore?
Because we hold it to lower tolerances. We allow less failures. We could build cheaper, but we have rules preventing it. Ukraine is building just good enough.
