Saudi Arabia Is Pressing U.S. to Drop Its Hormuz Blockade

[question everything]

Source: WSJ

Saudi Arabia is pressing the U.S. to drop its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and return to the negotiating table, fearing President Trump’s move to close it off could lead Iran to escalate and disrupt other important shipping routes, Arab officials said.

The blockade is aimed at raising the pressure on Iran’s already crippled economy. But the officials said Saudi Arabia has warned Iran might retaliate by closing the Bab al-Mandeb—a Red Sea chokepoint crucial for the kingdom’s remaining oil exports.

The pushback is a sign of the risks and limitations of U.S. efforts to pry open the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran shut early in the war by attacking ships in the waterway, cutting off around 13 million barrels a day in oil exports and sending futures prices above $100 a barrel.

(snip)

Saudi Arabia recently has been able to get its oil exports back up to their prewar level of around seven million barrels a day despite the blockage in the strategic strait by piping its crude across the desert to the Red Sea. Those supplies would be at risk if the Red Sea’s exit route were closed as well. Iran’s Houthi allies in Yemen control a long stretch of coastline near the Bab al-Mandeb and severely disrupted the waterway for much of the war in the Gaza Strip. Iran is putting pressure on the group to close the chokepoint again, Arab officials said.

Read more: https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-us-strait-of-hormuz-blockade-25fbd430

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https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-us-strait-of-hormuz-blockade-25fbd430?st=hncUEC&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

free link

[murielm99]

1. The Saudis want him to TACO?

[thesquanderer]

4. Interesting that the request is being made public.

I"m guessing they tried to keep it to private back channels first, and then people (on their side? on our side?) felt it would be better to make the request public.

[Bengus81]

14. The Saudis want Trump to bomb Iran to the ground...

Messing around with some blockade is wasting time.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. What happens if there's an impasse in the future?

Example: Saudi Arabia wants Trump to stop HIS blockade but Israel wants him to keep it going.

[Javaman]

3. get jared on this stat! LOL

he'll extract another 2 billion to make the war worth while to...himself.

[Justice matters.]

12. he will have to give it to mafia don.

he's still far from his trillionaire daydream.

[NJCher]

5. free link doesn't work

fyi

[question everything]

7. Will this?

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-us-strait-of-hormuz-blockade-25fbd430 st=vUUw25&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

[Scrivener7]

6. This'll work. They're one of the countries lining Orange Jesus's pocket.

[Sweet Rosie Red]

8. The concept of using our military as international mercenaries

sure gets confusing, especially when demented morons and real estate developers are making decisions. How many will die while the auctioneers dither? Every human being on the planet deserves better!

[Sweet Rosie Red]

9. Pardon me, delayed synapsis:

“I spent 33 years and four months in active military service and during that period I spent most of my time as a high class muscle man for Big Business, for Wall Street and the bankers. In short, I was a racketeer, a gangster for capitalism. I helped make Mexico and especially Tampico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenues in. I helped in the raping of half a dozen Central American republics for the benefit of Wall Street. I helped purify Nicaragua for the International Banking House of Brown Brothers in 1902-1912. I brought light to the Dominican Republic for the American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras right for the American fruit companies in 1903. In China in 1927 I helped see to it that Standard Oil went on its way unmolested. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints. The best he could do was to operate his racket in three districts. I operated on three continents.”
― Smedley D. Butler, War Is a Racket
Smedley Butler https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/191777-war-is-a-racket/

[Sweet Rosie Red]

10. The oligarchs rear up and try to impose fascism every generation or three

Smedley Butler won two Medals Of Honor and retired from the Marine Corps as a Major General on October 1, 1931. In 1934, he blew the whistle on The Businessman’s Plot to overthrow FDR by force and put the US under a military dictatorship. He testified before Congress and the plot was quietly shut down. This moment we are in is generational. The oligarchs rear up and try to impose fascism every generation or three, and it is the eternal work of citizenship to watch and resist!

TL/DR. RESIST!

]https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/smedley-butler.html

[progressoid]

11. Hey Saudi Arabia, this is an easy fix. Just offer a couple more free planes and business "loans" to the Trump family.

[Midnight Writer]

13. Trump's response: "How much is it worth to you?"

[SergeStorms]

15. Your master's voice, Donny!

One of your masters, anyway. Better check with Pootie first, though.

[flamingdem]

16. So boots on the ground?

Saudi Arabia going to send soldiers?