Trump is going to get America involved in another Viet Nam like War!

Your statement: At this point, our military has never had as many combat-experienced veterans of war.

Today's military as a WHOLE does not have the number of members with combat experienced as compared to military members after WWII or Vietnam.
Are they still in service, these WWII combat veterans?

When the war ended, the conscripts came back home.

That is not the case here, as we have a full volunteer force that remains and will remain to train subsequent troops.

You want to play semantic games, then answer the question.

What other military in the world TODAY has more combat experience than the US, and is comparable to our force?

Answer that and then move on.
 
Are they still in service, these WWII combat veterans?

When the war ended, the conscripts came back home.

That is not the case here, as we have a full volunteer force that remains and will remain to train subsequent troops.

You want to play semantic games, then answer the question.

What other military in the world TODAY has more combat experience than the US, and is comparable to our force?

Answer that and then move on.
Your question wasn't what other military in the world, you said OUR troops. I served with men that served in Vietnam and Korea and the majority of service members today do not have that level of combat experience.
 
Your question wasn't what other military in the world, you said OUR troops. I served with men that served in Vietnam and Korea and the majority of service members today do not have that level of combat experience.
OUR troops are more hardened combat troops of any nation on the planet. It is YOU who wanted to go back to a war that was 80 years ago.

The fact remains, no other nation on Earth has a more capable, ready, and battle-tested military on the planet.

Time to move on Your deflection has been answered.
 
"
"Combat experience.", is still broad.

Combat veterans of WW2, would not be technologically as experienced as Combat veterans of Viet Nam, and that would absolutely apply to the Technological Experience to Combat veterans since 9-11.

But, if Fighting a War, was the "Experience", then I Believe that the one with the most "Numbers" would be WW2.
 
Iran is the center of "Shia Islam".

"The Shia Sect of Islam" is looking for the "Mahdi", which in Islam, is comparable to the Biblical "Messiah"/"Christ". The Biblical End times Prophecies, are practically identical to those in the Quran, at least in the Belief that the "End Times" will be Horrifically Unprecedented.

The problem here, is that both the "Shia", & "Sunni" Muslims, believe that one who dies when making War, or "Jihad" upon the "Infidel/Unbeliever", is not only a Martyr, (Think Saint), but also that the more violent the World is, the sooner the "Mahdi" will come. The "Shia Muslims, believe that they are to strive to bring these Horrific Times upon the Earth.

The "Shia & Sunni Muslims", have No Fear of Death, which explains their not objecting in a Moral Sense, to one being a Suicide Bomber, etc.

In fact, a Muslim, having died while making "Jihad/War" upon the "Unbeliever/Infidel", is a High Honor embraced by the "Jihadists" Family members, & Friends.

The "Christian West", does not comprehend this "Mindset", and it largely believes that once an Enemies Military Power has largely been broken, that the "War/Battle", is successfully over.

I don't believe that America/Trump is prepared for what has been unleashed in Iran.
 

POTUS Donald Trump, who thought that he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize, without declaring War, bombed Iran.​

Then, instead of intercepting suspected drug running boats in American waters, & showing what these boats were carrying to the American people, he ordered American Forces to blow them up, In International Waters, which is An Act of War, and against International Law via the United Nations, which America is still a member of.

Now, Trump is apparently preparing to attack Venezuela, with American forces.

This "Wannabe, Nobel Peace Prize Winner" is apparently using George Orwell's book "1984" as Guide book.

"Peace is War"
===============

Trump Declares Airspace Above Venezuela "To Be Closed In Its Entirety"​

Tyler Durden's Photo's Photo

by Tyler Durden
Authored...
" President Trump said on Saturday on X that the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela will "be closed in its entirety."

Fast-forward four months, and Trump has won again in Iran :auiqs.jpg:
https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3fa490ec-0df5-456b-8ea8-09b84ed253b2_1024x683.jpeg

"For a winning-obsessed president, the modern military offers a game that never ends, that can be won again and again and again.

"If you eliminate the ruler of Venezuela, there’s always that cartel leader in Mexico to bump off.

"And once you’ve done that, there’s always the new leader of Venezuela you can bully.

"And after that, there’s Iran’s ruler.

"Then the new ruler…and on and on.

"'We’ve already won in many ways, but we haven’t won enough,' Trump said at his press conference yesterday.

"'We go forward more determined than ever to achieve ultimate victory.'"

Trump Declares Iran War Over
 
Back in the real world

The huge outside consensus is that as expected Iran is winning its fight with the Zionist Terrorists and that Trumpfy has badly lost control over any narrative other than dropping bombs as something to do .
Meanwhile the valiant Hooty Tooty Freedom Fighters have control over the world's economy by blocking Hormuz and Tehran is steadily flattening Israel with US bases right across the ME in ruins .

A few Oreshniks and /or Cluster warhead missiles on Israel's five de-salination plants should just about wrap up immediate matters nicely .

How much longer can the American braggarts shout out their nonsense without being laughed at throughout their imminent bankruptcy proceedings ?
Will Trumpfy win this year's award for funniest stand-up comedian?

Quote Reply
 

"Risk Of Attack Is Too High": US Navy Refuses To Provide Escorts To Ships Transiting Hormuz Strait​

Tyler Durden's Photo

by Tyler Durden
Authored...
One week after Trump announced that the US would cover insurance for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and would provide them with US navy escorts, Reuters reports that the US Navy has refused near-daily requests from the shipping industry for military escorts through the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war on Iran, saying the risk of attacks is too high for now.

The U.S. Navy has held regular ⁠briefings with shipping and oil industry counterparts and has said during those briefings it is unable to provide escorts for the time being, three unnamed shipping industry sources told Reuters. They added that the shipping industry has been making requests almost daily during the calls for naval escorts through the strait. One of the sources said the Navy’s assessment during Tuesday’s briefing had not changed and that escorts would only be possible once the risk of attack was reduced, which judging by images like the one below of a container ship in the Gulf today won't happen any time soon.

Insane image from the bridge of a container ship arriving at the Port of Salalh in Oman earlier today, as flames engulf multiple port facilities and oil tanks at the MINA Petroleum Facility, resulting from several impacts by one-way attack drones launched by Iran. pic.twitter.com/ePFkxNpOEf

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) March 11, 2026
The ‌Navy's assessments spell continued disruption to Middle East oil exports and reflect a stark divergence from President Donald Trump’s statements that the U.S. is prepared to provide naval escorts whenever needed to restart regular shipments along the key waterway.

Shipping along the narrow strait has all but halted since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran more than a week ago, preventing exports of around a fifth of the world’s oil supply and sending global oil prices surging to highs not seen since 2022. Some ships - mostly Iranian VLCCs and Chinese tankers carrying embargoed products - have resumed transits with Iran vowing it would only attack western-linked ships, we reported earlier.



The status quo may soon change, however: on Tuesday General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the US military has started looking at options to potentially escort ships through the strait, should it be ‌ordered to do ⁠so. "We're looking at a range of options there," Caine told reporters at the Pentagon.

A U.S. official told Reuters the U.S. military has not yet escorted any commercial ships through the strait. Earlier in the day, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright deleted a post on X in which he said the Navy had successfully escorted one through.

While there have been some voyages through the waterway in recent days, the majority of shipping traffic remains on hold with hundreds of ships anchored.

Meanwhile, Trump has said repeatedly in recent days that the United States is prepared to escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz when necessary.

"When the time comes, the U.S. Navy and its partners will escort tankers through the strait, if needed. I hope it's not going to be needed, but if it's needed, we'll escort them right through," he said on Monday during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

For its part, Iran remains adamant: a senior official with Iran's Revolutionary Guards has said the strait is closed and Iran will fire on any ship trying to pass, Iranian media reported last week. Several ships have already been hit.

Indeed, earlier in the day, a Thai ship attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the bulk carrier Mayuree Naree, was struck by projectiles while travelling about 18km north of Oman.

Images released show black smoke coming from a Thai cargo ship near the Strait of Hormuz after it was reportedly struck by an Iranian projectile.

Authorities say it is one of three commercial vessels that were targeted on Wednesday, and several crew members are missing. pic.twitter.com/6yL9U2WOw2

— Al Jazeera Breaking News (@AJENews) March 11, 2026
Never afraid of wading neck-deep in irony, just a few hours after photos of the latest ship to be attacked in the SoH circled the globe, Trump said "you can see great safety in the Strait of Hormuz", when asked how he’s going to ensure the safety of oil following through it.

When asked by a reporter if Iran laid mines in the Strait of Hormuz, “we don’t think so,” President Trump replied, all signs to the contrary.


 

Oil Soars As 2 Oil Tankers Explode In Persian Gulf, Iraq's Oil Ports Stop Operations​

Tyler Durden's Photo

by Tyler Durden
Authored...
Top headlines of conflict

  • Oil prices surge as two oil tankers are attacked and explode in Iraqi waters, forcing Iraq to stop operations at its oil ports and sending oil toward $100/bbl.
  • 'Largest wave of missiles since hostilities began' launched into northern Israel by Hezbollah
  • The US Navy said it was 'too dangerous' to escort tankers through still.
  • President of Iran demands reparations and guarantees against future aggression.
  • Trump says the war with Iran will end soon, as there is 'practically nothing left to target."
  • Yet U.S. and Israeli officials plan at least two more weeks of strikes
  • U.S. forces destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying vessels in the Strait of Hormuz
  • Iran's drone production has been significantly degraded.
  • The IEA is preparing its largest-ever emergency crude oil release to counter surging Brent and WTI prices.
  • Casualty estimates: over 1,200 killed in Iran from U.S./Israeli strikes (plus civilian reports), 13 deaths in Israel from Iranian retaliation, and 140 U.S. service members wounded (mostly minor).
* * *

Update (1850ET): As night fell across the Middle East, Hezbollah launched a huge wave of at least 150 rockets rained down on northern Israel (Times Of Israel):

Lebanese terror group Hezbollah showered rockets and drones at northern Israel for hours, repeatedly sending hundreds of thousands of Israelis to shelters on Wednesday evening.

It marked the largest Hezbollah attack on Israel since hostilities intensified earlier this month, as the terror group began attacks to support its sponsor, Iran, which is under intense attack from a joint US-Israel air campaign that began on February 28.

An opening salvo of 100 rockets was launched around 8 p.m. as a missile from Iran targeted the central region of the country, in what Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said was a coordinated attack. More Iranian missiles targeted the north and south of the country.
Footage shows Hezbollah's large rocket barrage on northern Israel this evening. Around 100 rockets were fired, according to IDF assessments. pic.twitter.com/8wuG6J8kgg

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) March 11, 2026
This was followed by reports that two oil tankers have been hit by 'explosive boats' and were on fire in the Persian Gulf.

حريق كبير في ناقلة نفط قرب ميناء أم قصر جنوبي العراق. ترجيحات بأن النيران ناتجة عن استهداف مباشر للناقلة. pic.twitter.com/sc2rnsk8vd

— MUSTAFA SAADOON (@SaadoonMustafa) March 11, 2026
🚨 BREAKING: One of the oil tankers that was attacked by Iranian explosive boats in the Persian Gulf belongs to US based company @safeseagroup pic.twitter.com/4ogzMJLnae

— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) March 11, 2026
Apparently there are two unknown foreign tankers that have caught fire in Iraq’s territorial waters.

Stay connected, follow @MOSSADil. https://t.co/rI2C2thgfv pic.twitter.com/fHBP6tbWPO

— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) March 11, 2026
Two foreign tankers carrying Iraqi fuel oil have been subjected to unidentified attacks within Iraqi territorial waters, causing both vessels to catch fire, according to security sources cited by Baghdad Today and according to the State Organization for Marketing of Oil (SOMO). The tankers are

  • Tanker SAFESEA VISHNU, flying flag of Marshall Islands and chartered by one of Iraqi companies contracted with SOMO
  • Tanker ZEFYROS, flying flag of Malta and carrying condensate produced by Basra Gas Co.
The tankers - whose cargo was naphtha and condensate, both extremely flammable - were attacked while present in loading area.Tanker ZEFYROS was scheduled to head to Khor Al-Zubair Port on March 12 to load additional 30,000 tons shipment of naphtha. This incident negatively affects Iraq’s security and economy and also represents a threat to safety of maritime navigation and oil activities within Iraqi territorial waters, SOMO says.

The attack occurred in the waiting area near the Khor Abdullah waterway, approximately 11 miles from the export port caused a fire on the tanker, leading to significant damage to its structure.

According to an Iraqi port official speaking to the Reuters news agency, authorities have successfully evacuated 25 crew members from the two ships. Despite these efforts, the fires have remained ablaze on both vessels.

One tanker, which was flying a foreign flag, is believed to be American, though its specific nationality has not been confirmed. The attack took place within Iraq’s territorial waters, but no group has claimed responsibility for the incident.
It turns out that perhaps the area is not as "safe" as President Trump said it was. And as a reminder, the US Navy already said it was 'too dangerous' to escort tankers through still.

As a result of the tanker explosions, Iraq stopped operations at its oil ports. Iraq was one of the first Persian Gulf majors to start reducing oil production after the near-closure of Hormuz, followed by Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. The cuts forced forced the International Energy Agency to act with a co-ordinated release of 400 million barrels — a historic drawdown that is significantly higher than the volume that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Oil prices are surging higher on the news with WTI back above $91 - now up on the week and 20% higher than yesterday's lows...



Stocks tumbled back to the lows of the day...



Equities decoupled into the close from oil and bonds... the tanker explosion has recoupled that hopeful mistake...



Shortly after the spike in crude oil, the US Department of Energy sent out the following statement:

  • UNITED STATES TO RELEASE 172 MLN BARRELS OF OIL FROM STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE - DOE
...clearly damage control to tamp down the fire underneath oil prices that are once again out of control.

* * *

Update (1012ET): The President of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian, says he has spoken with the leaders of Russia and Pakistan, to whom he "reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to peace in the region."

According to Pezeshkian, the only way to end the war is "recognizing Iran’s legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm int'l guarantees against future aggression."

Talking to leaders of Russia and Pakistan, I reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to peace in the region. The only way to end this war—ignited by the Zionist regime & US—is recognizing Iran’s legitimate rights, payment of reparations, and firm int'l guarantees against future aggression.

— Masoud Pezeshkian (@drpezeshkian) March 11, 2026
Other notable headlines of the day:

*Overnight: Hegseth proclaiming the day saw "most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes" of the war yet - sending prices higher

IEA MEMBERS AGREE OIL STOCKPILE RELEASE OF 400M BARRELS - quick dip and then rip higher in oil prices

*TRUMP: US TOOK OUT JUST ABOUT ALL OF IRAN'S MINE SHIPS - oil reversed lower

*TRUMP: OIL COMPANIES SHOULD USE STRAIT OF HORMUZ - extended drop


*TRUMP PROMISES 'GREAT SAFETY' FOR OIL TANKERS IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ - further drop

* * *

Update (1012ET):
President Trump on Wednesday said that the war with Iran will end "soon" because there is "practically nothing left to target."



"Little this and that... Any time I want it to end, it will end," Trump told Axios during a five-minute phone call, adding "The war is going great. We are way ahead of the timetable. We have done more damage than we thought possible, even in the original six-week period."

"They were after the rest of the Middle East. They are paying for 47 years of death and destruction they caused. This is payback. They will not get off that easy," Trump said.

So, Mission Almost Accomplished™ after the Trump administration has given estimates ranging from weeks to months for how long this might take.

Yet while Trump is signaling that the operation has largely accomplished its objectives, US and Israeli officials say there's been no indication of when fighting might stop. As Axios notes further, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said Wednesday that fighting will continue "without any time limit, for as long as necessary, until we achieve all the objectives and decisively win the campaign." Meanwhile, Israeli and US officials say they're preparing for at least two more weeks of strikes in Iran.

* * *

Update (0930ET):


The most significant development in the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday was the start of IRGC naval mining operations, which were met with massive U.S. firepower that destroyed 16 mine-laying vessels. As we continue monitoring the maritime chokepoint this morning after IRGC attacks on three commercial vessels, attention is now shifting to the IRGC's drone production capacity, which appears to have been degraded.

Bloomberg reports that 2,100 Shaheds have been fired so far in the 12-day conflict. U.S. forces struck IRGC production facilities, disrupting large-scale manufacturing. The report is based on comments from a senior European official.

"Since the Houthis have produced UAVs under bombardment, one would think the Iranians can, albeit not at the same rates, since facilities have to be dispersed and makeshift workshops used," Sid Kaushal, a senior research fellow at the UK-based Royal United Services Institute, told the outlet.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier that Saudi Arabia's kill-cost ratio, neutralizing $20,000 IRGC drones with $2 million-plus missiles, has spurred talks with a Ukrainian counter-drone company for cheap interceptor drones.

* * *

America-Israel's Operation Epic Fury entered its 12th day, with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth indicating that the most intense phase of U.S. strikes is expected on Wednesday. Tehran responded with retaliatory strikes against Gulf neighbors, as Goldman's foreign affairs chief warned of a growing risk of regional spillover (read here). Overnight, market attention centered on energy, with the IEA reportedly proposing its largest-ever emergency crude release to combat Brent and WTI prices, which have reached triple-digit territory.

"The most fighters, the most bombers, the most strikes. Intelligence more refined and better than ever. So that's on one hand," Hegseth said. "On the other hand, the last 24 hours have seen Iran fire the lowest number of missiles they've been capable of firing yet."
Around 0900 ET, the IEA is expected to announce plans for a massive crude release into the market to cap Brent and WTI prices, which surged near $120 per barrel at the start of the week. In a note to premium subscribers, we outlined several problems that could arise and why any such release would only offer temporary relief.

Read the note:

Beyond the panic among G-7 leaders and the IEA over crude prices, the Trump administration has also pushed its own headlines on Tuesday in an effort to jawbone energy prices lower, as we explained here.

Jawboning headlines from G-7 and the Trump administration on Tuesday were shortly followed by headlines that Iran had begun mining the Strait of Hormuz. That came after President Trump warned Tehran not to "put out any mines" in the narrow waterway. Shortly afterward, the U.S. military said 16 Iranian mine-laying naval vessels had been eliminated.

Overnight reports described heavy U.S. and Israeli strikes on IRGC targets, with damage reported to oil facilities, civilian sites, and a hospital in Bushehr taken out of service. Iran has claimed that nearly 10,000 sites have been hit overall.

There are currently no signs of de-escalation from either side, with IRGC spokesman Ebrahim Zolfighari warning the Trump administration at the start of the week: "If they can afford the price of oil at $200 per barrel, let them keep playing this game."

The latest casualty report states that more than 1,200 people have been killed by U.S. and Israeli strikes in Iran, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, and 13 have died in Israel as Iran retaliated with missiles and drones.

Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said that 140 U.S. service members have been wounded in the conflict so far.

"The vast majority of these injuries have been minor, and 108 service members have already returned to duty," Parnell said. "Eight service members remain listed as severely injured and are receiving the highest level of medical care."
The latest and most critical overnight headlines (courtesy of Bloomberg):

Military Attacks

  • The US and Israel are conducting strikes against Iran, hitting thousands of targets across the country and degrading missile launchers and command networks
  • B-52 bombers have been used to strike Iranian ballistic missile and command-and-control sites
  • More than 1,000 civilians have been killed according to a preliminary count by Human Rights Activists News Agency
  • Israel struck Iranian drone launch squads, though the White House cannot confirm reports of 150 US troops injured
  • A drone strike in Iraq's Kurdistan region killed a member of an Iranian Kurdish armed opposition group, with the group blaming Iran for the attack
Regional Impact

  • The UAE's air defenses are intercepting missile and drone attacks from Iran, with loud bangs heard in Dubai
  • Two drones fell near Dubai International Airport, injuring four people including two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national
  • Turkish President Erdogan warned the war must be stopped before it engulfs the region in flames
  • The UAE President wrote a patriotic poem performed by the national orchestra honoring those protecting the nation
Energy Market

  • The International Energy Agency is considering releasing emergency oil reserves of 300-400 million barrels, potentially the largest in its history
  • The IEA is recommending a release of oil from strategic reserves exceeding 100 million barrels over the first month, according to sources
  • Brent crude futures rose 5% to $92.47 a barrel while West Texas Intermediate climbed 5.8% to $88.27 early Wednesday
  • Wood Mackenzie consultancy warns of oil prices potentially reaching $150+ per barrel due to the supply shock
  • Brent crude briefly surged to $119.5 per barrel late Sunday in one of the most dramatic spikes in recent oil-market history
Strait of Hormuz

  • President Trump threatened Iran in a Truth Social post with "military consequences" at a level "never seen before" if they were to place mines in the Strait.
  • Iran unleashes naval mines across the critical waterway, followed by US military announcing 16 IRGC mine-laying ships in the area were "eliminated"
  • Reuters says the US naval fleet is not ready for convoys through Strait
  • US Secretary Wright deleted the tweet on US Navy escorted oil tanker through Strait - WH says premature
  • IRGC Commander slams Wright for fake news
  • Three vessels hit by projectiles in Strait of Hormuz
Diplomatic Developments

  • Russia is constantly in touch with Iranian leadership and willing to contribute to efforts to stabilize the region, according to the Kremlin
  • Russian media argues that negotiations with the US always end with missiles hitting capitals, questioning Trump's peace deal efforts
  • President Trump warned Iran against laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, threatening military consequences at a level never seen before
Top stories by outlet:

  • Pipelines by-passing Strait of Hormuz (WSJ)
  • IEA proposes record release from strategic oil reserves (WSJ)
  • IEA proposes release of 300-400 million barrels (Bloomberg)
  • United States not ready for convoys through Strait (Reuters)
  • China's oil refiners relatively insulated from war (Bloomberg)
  • Qatar's LNG shutdown tightens global gas supply (Bloomberg)
  • UAE shuts down refinery after damage from drone (Reuters)
  • ADNOC presses oil partners to transit the Strait (Bloomberg)
  • Pakistan reiterates support for Saudi Arabia (Bloomberg)
  • U.S. diesel prices in record weekly increase (WSJ)
  • Iran war and shadowy short wave broadcasts (FT)
  • Europe's shift from nuclear was "strategic mistake" (Reuters)
  • Israeli intelligence assessment indicates Iran’s new supreme leader was wounded at the start of the war (AP News)
Polymarket odds for a US-Iran ceasefire are sliding:



Commenting on energy markets, UBS analyst Nana Antiedu cited Henri Patricot's note on three scenarios in the conflict and potential oil/gas implications:

If there is a quick de-escalation of the US-Iran conflict by mid-March with no damage to critical oil infrastructure and flows via Hormuz resume, Henri Patricot sees Brent averaging $80/bbl in March, before dropping to the mid-$70s.

TTF gas prices would hold €50/MWh, before falling to the high-€30s in 2Q26. In the case where Hormuz disruptions persist for a month, both oil and gas markets would further tighten, increasing the pace of inventory drawdowns and supply shut from GCC countries.

Here, he expects oil prices to rise above $100/bbl in the second half of March, averaging $100/bbl in March and $78/bbl for 1Q26, before coming down to $90/bbl in 2Q26 as disruptions ease.

For gas, LNG supply would be reduced for longer, requiring more demand reduction, especially as spare capacity and storage are limited.

He would expect TTF to rise towards €80/MWh by end-March, averaging €65/MWh in March and €46/bbl for 1Q26, before coming down to €50/MWh in 2Q26.

In the final scenario, where there is extended disruption (longer than a month), Brent prices could average $110/bbl in March and might climb towards $150+ by 2Q26. On the gas side, TTF could average €73/MWh in March and rise to €80/MWh in 2Q26.
What's clear is that the Middle East conflict has sent macroeconomic uncertainty soaring across the world, despite the White House saying the surge in energy prices is temporary.

The big headline this morning will be around 0900 ET from the IEA on crude inventory releases.


 

"Risk Of Attack Is Too High": US Navy Refuses To Provide Escorts To Ships Transiting Hormuz Strait​

Tyler Durden's Photo's Photo

by Tyler Durden
Authored...
One week after Trump announced that the US would cover insurance for ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and would provide them with US navy escorts, Reuters reports that the US Navy has refused near-daily requests from the shipping industry for military escorts through the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war on Iran, saying the risk of attacks is too high for now.

The U.S. Navy has held regular ⁠briefings with shipping and oil industry counterparts and has said during those briefings it is unable to provide escorts for the time being, three unnamed shipping industry sources told Reuters. They added that the shipping industry has been making requests almost daily during the calls for naval escorts through the strait. One of the sources said the Navy’s assessment during Tuesday’s briefing had not changed and that escorts would only be possible once the risk of attack was reduced, which judging by images like the one below of a container ship in the Gulf today won't happen any time soon.


The ‌Navy's assessments spell continued disruption to Middle East oil exports and reflect a stark divergence from President Donald Trump’s statements that the U.S. is prepared to provide naval escorts whenever needed to restart regular shipments along the key waterway.

Shipping along the narrow strait has all but halted since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran more than a week ago, preventing exports of around a fifth of the world’s oil supply and sending global oil prices surging to highs not seen since 2022. Some ships - mostly Iranian VLCCs and Chinese tankers carrying embargoed products - have resumed transits with Iran vowing it would only attack western-linked ships, we reported earlier.



The status quo may soon change, however: on Tuesday General Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said that the US military has started looking at options to potentially escort ships through the strait, should it be ‌ordered to do ⁠so. "We're looking at a range of options there," Caine told reporters at the Pentagon.

A U.S. official told Reuters the U.S. military has not yet escorted any commercial ships through the strait. Earlier in the day, U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright deleted a post on X in which he said the Navy had successfully escorted one through.

While there have been some voyages through the waterway in recent days, the majority of shipping traffic remains on hold with hundreds of ships anchored.

Meanwhile, Trump has said repeatedly in recent days that the United States is prepared to escort tankers through the Strait of Hormuz when necessary.

"When the time comes, the U.S. Navy and its partners will escort tankers through the strait, if needed. I hope it's not going to be needed, but if it's needed, we'll escort them right through," he said on Monday during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.

For its part, Iran remains adamant: a senior official with Iran's Revolutionary Guards has said the strait is closed and Iran will fire on any ship trying to pass, Iranian media reported last week. Several ships have already been hit.

Indeed, earlier in the day, a Thai ship attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the bulk carrier Mayuree Naree, was struck by projectiles while travelling about 18km north of Oman.


Never afraid of wading neck-deep in irony, just a few hours after photos of the latest ship to be attacked in the SoH circled the globe, Trump said "you can see great safety in the Strait of Hormuz", when asked how he’s going to ensure the safety of oil following through it.

When asked by a reporter if Iran laid mines in the Strait of Hormuz, “we don’t think so,” President Trump replied, all signs to the contrary.


There has been no refusal
 
15th post

Trump says he is ‘not afraid’ of another Vietnam in Iran​

18 March 2026 09:05 GMT
000_A3PH8RC.jpg.jpg




US President Donald Trump speaking from the Oval Office on Tuesday dismissed concerns that a land invasion could trap the United States in another protracted war.

When asked if he's afraid that it could be another Vietnam, Trump said "no" adding "I'm not afraid of anything."

Trump has previously said he would send troops if “necessary” and now there is growing concern that the US president might deploy troops in the country. Trump also raised the spectre of targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure.



 
Iran has a stated policy to detonate a nuke in Israel and America. They will if we let them. It wont be rocket it will be in a suitcase or back pack by a suicide bomber.
They (Iran) seems to be doing pretty damn well in the Tel Aviv area right now with conventional weapons. Thanks in large part to assistance from China and Russia. Ben Gurion is shut down.
 

Trump says he is ‘not afraid’ of another Vietnam in Iran​

18 March 2026 09:05 GMT
000_A3PH8RC.jpg.jpg




US President Donald Trump speaking from the Oval Office on Tuesday dismissed concerns that a land invasion could trap the United States in another protracted war.

When asked if he's afraid that it could be another Vietnam, Trump said "no" adding "I'm not afraid of anything."

Trump has previously said he would send troops if “necessary” and now there is growing concern that the US president might deploy troops in the country. Trump also raised the spectre of targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure.



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