Trump will begin blockade of Strait of Hormuz within hours

3eb7988a1663 11 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I am genuinely curious - would the navy shoot down a friendly nation tanker who was just trying to cross?

That would be an insane escalation that helps nobody. Instead, if they watched it float by, that makes the USA look impotent beyond belief. I suppose they could "just" seize it, but piracy is not much of an improved look.

	▲	jacquesm 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		The Chinese can do something really funny now.

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Rzor 11 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Is he trying to pressure Europe into a joint action on Iran? Or in their calculus hurting China and Iran remains viable despite the blowback in the US? We don't have the whole picture, of course, but right now this only makes sense if to confuse your enemy you must shoot yourself in the foot first while singing Kumbaya.

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SilverElfin 11 hours ago | parent [-]

It’s to make it so the strait is closed for everyone if it is closed for some. This hurts Iran’s already weak economy significantly but also its allies like China, especially if they’re shipping arms by sea.

	▲	jacquesm 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		US vessels blocking Chinese vessels in international waters would certainly have interesting and very immediate results. I'm not sure Trump realizes how big the cowpie is that he just faceplanted in.

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k310 11 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Jealous that Iran is collecting tolls.

Wants a piece of the action.

All of it.

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6Az4Mj4D 12 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Before war it was open; During war he says why dont you open; Now he says he will close?

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gnabgib 13 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Discussion (53 points, 74 comments) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=47739524

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