(05-01-2026, 12:37 PM)Oldcarpy2 Wrote: So, Kim is a mad dictator who brutally represses and murders his people, has nukes and the means to deliver them, and has threatened to use them to attack the US.

But the US doesn't seem at all concerned?

That's because Iran's nuclear threat is false pretense

Just like the promise of reinstalling Iran's Crowned Prince

(05-01-2026, 11:23 AM)Kwaka Wrote: It's a very entangled world in how this world works and how the economy actually trades. 1/3 of IDF tech is Russian. Then got the Ukraine thing still burning away too. There are generations of trade links going all over this world spreading out in all kind of ways, similar to the way language works. If Israel wants to extinguish the Iranian language, don't see Russia, China and others happy about that.

Appears some boats that are paying the toll are getting out of the straight. About 50% of those that have gotten out have gone elsewhere after that. America is leaving the boats with China military escort alone. Who really knows with how thick the fog of war is around this one? Some are still saying the Gerald Ford is still in the straight.

Diesel did peek a few weeks ago at nearly %100 markup here in Oz, back down to 30-40% up from pre war days. The price of LPG was pretty flat, got lots of that around without the refinery costs. One report that reserve levels are up to 45 days from the 30 days when this started.

Well I did read the other day (forget where) that Iran asked Russia for $4 or 5 Billion in credit to keep everything chugging along, but Russia said they can only spare them $2 Billion in credit. 

Did they fix the Gerald Ford gray water/toilet issues and fixed the arson damage?

China is Iran's top customer accounting for 90% of Iran's oil exports, and the USA is letting the Chinese ships pass? How does that make any sense if they want to force Iran to subjugate?

Entangled world, indeed.

(05-01-2026, 01:13 PM)DBCowboy Wrote: Do you know everything about N Korea?

Are you privy to all the US intelligence on N Korea?

Nope.

Just the bleeding obvious?

FFS?

(05-01-2026, 01:22 PM)cherokeetroy Wrote: That's because Iran's nuclear threat is false pretense

Has been for a long time with the way Bibi has been going on about it. The first leader killed grew up with all that and was taking a safe approach on the international scene from what I can tell.

Would 2/29 happened if Iran had nukes? I doubt it. Now they have more intensive to make that grade to avoid such future harassment. See what happens if they do or don't? If they do make the cut it is under battlefield conditions.

Who has been in more wars in the last 80 years, Iran or Israel? To take out the nuke issue is going to need a one world government. We ain't dead yet. See what AI wins...

(05-01-2026, 01:45 PM)quintessentone Wrote: China is Iran's top customer accounting for 90% of Iran's oil exports, and the USA is letting the Chinese ships pass? How does that make any sense if they want to force Iran to subjugate?

Does America really want to start a war with China in the current situation? Not cheep running those navel vessels, got something worth protecting.

(05-01-2026, 01:17 PM)andy06shake Wrote: Might be nice to see the love letters...

Come DB, it's a safe bet NK actually has nukes, and limited ICBM capabilities.

And considering the ongoing state of the Korean War.

Which, as far as im aware, has actually yet to be formally ended.

It's also a safe bet that they pose far more of a problem than Iran would seem to be, to anyone but Israel.

It wasnt formally declared to start either so why formally declare its ending

(05-01-2026, 02:27 PM)ReturnofBroccoli Wrote: It wasnt formally declared to start either so why formally declare its ending

Im inclined to believe invasions across borders, or the 38th parallel, tend to work better without formal declarations, and under the act of surprise.

So we can't really fault them there(for trying), considering they almost took the entire peninsula.

But im also inclined to believe they are desirable where the outcome of conflicts is concerned.

None of which changes the fact that North Korea is a real nuclear power as opposed to a wannabe one like Iran...

Then there is the additional fact that North Korea has been known to consistently threaten the U.S.A with nuclear annihilation.

(05-01-2026, 02:14 PM)Kwaka Wrote: Does America really want to start a war with China in the current situation? Not cheep running those navel vessels, got something worth protecting.

So let me get this straight. The US blockade is to bring Iran to its knees economically but allow it's biggest customer @ 90% total oil export from Iran to come and go at will. It's a farse.

(05-01-2026, 02:47 PM)quintessentone Wrote: So let me get this straight. The US blockade is to bring Iran to its knees economically but allow it's biggest customer @ 90% total oil export from Iran to come and go at will. It's a farse.

The fog of war is thick with what the actual numbers are. There has been a lot of restrictions with what is getting through. For my interpretation of how this situation is, it is not a complete siege, but one step closer to a one world regulated government with Iran and America both watching the ship traffic more closely.

(05-01-2026, 02:47 PM)quintessentone Wrote: So let me get this straight. The US blockade is to bring Iran to its knees economically but allow it's biggest customer @ 90% total oil export from Iran to come and go at will. It's a farse.

The fact is, they would struggle to stop them without escalating into conflict with China.

And sanctioning the Chinese buyers more aggressively simply risks more economic fallout.

Which is apt to increase the already exorbitant price of oil.

It's a complete and utter farce.

A pointless exercise really...