Not a defense but an explanation

1. The oil on those tankers belongs to someone. The US would have to steal Indian, Chinese, or someone else’s oil if they seized those tankers. This would cause even more chaos.

2. The price of the little remaining unsold oil outside of the Persian Gulf (the spot price for oil) would skyrocket.

No way I’m clicking that

Listen to the guy talk and make your own opinion

They have citizens they need to keep alive and to do that they need fuel and food

Those are their interests

I don’t know that that narrative would win them very much

The US removed all its mine sweepers from the Gulf

Also, even the threat of mines would make insurance prohibitively expensive and no ship would enter the area

Sometimes they’re not mad they’re just evil

I don’t think blaming the Europeans for this mess is credible.

They need to focus what assets they have to defend their interests.

Always has been…

Where is the extreme concern about the CSAM in the Epstein files from the “We have to protect the children!!!” crowd?

If they are mining the strait it’s to put pressure on the US.

They would not give up that pressure.

Also, either they are communicating with the mines to tell them which commercial ships have Chinese bound cargo, (I guess that is possible, but I have never heard of it) or they are indiscriminate.

On the other hand, if they have a live data link to the mines, then that would be a pretty good way for minesweepers to sweep up the mines. That doesn’t sound like a really prudent course of action.

No, but at least one Chinese ship ran the strait yesterday. And a Greek one I think.

Trump and Hegseth aren’t playing 3D anything.

The People’s Liberation Army’s Navy is designed to reach Taiwan. They have no ability to defend ships all the way from the Persian Gulf.

India and every country on the way also NEEDS oil and will go out and take it to prevent disaster in their own countries.

China is at the wrong end of straw.

If this is true, China is soooooooooo fucked.

I’m talking mass starvation.

I agree that those data are valuable, but just not forcing someone to do something in a public spat.

Those Social Security data are worthless as a bargaining chip because he would instantly go to jail if he disclosed that he actually had them.

(Don’t mess with the Boomers)

FYI, Syngenta is owned/controlled by the Chinese government.

The US doesn’t really trade with Spain. American citizens and corporations do.

On what legal authority does he think he can control what Americans do?

T

The executive has only the power to execute the laws created by Congress.

Well much of what he is ordering is already illegal. So passing more laws sort of justifies his lawlessness.