Energy Quagmire For Netanayhu

USA bombed Iran about nine months ago and declared the alleged nuclear threat was destroyed. Eight months later USA is again bombing Iran and it appears to be on behalf of Israel leader Netanayhu. Netanayhu has long-running corruption allegations blighting his image. Netanayahu spent formative education years in New Jersey and seems to have been indoctrinated by neocons in that area.

Iran has effectively stopped boat-based energy (crude oil) transport to the world through Straits of Hormuz. Iran is reportedly allowing some tankers to pass after paying a toll, and has reportedly allowed some Spanish tankers to go through the strait. Boat insurers have abandoned this area, so boat owners will not go near the area.

Shortly after the start of the recent Iran bombing campaign, USA's Director of National Intelligence Joseph Kent quit with a strongly worded letter indicating Iran was not threatening USA. 

 

With the achievement of Netanayhu's short term goal of eliminating Iran's leadership through early decapitation bombing, USA finds it itself with no-one to negotiate with to end the battles. Iran is still launching missiles and landing some in neighboring countries and Israel. USA is trapped in this mission to be Israel's world police force. A quick intervention is becoming another long-term occupation (Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan) which is straining USA's military.

Countries that are energy importers will struggle the next several years. Food prices will rise for everyone. The US Postal Service will begin an 8% fuel surcharge. 

President Trump was swayed by Netanayhu's pressuring, and Trump is now trapped in an inflationary quagmire of his own making. The longer USA engages with Iran, the more Iran wins in terms of international economics and politics. Trump's reputation in his second term is likely damaged beyond repair. Putting USA military "boots on the ground" in the area will hasten the fall of USA and the rise of asia.

The quickest way for USA to exit this mess would be to hasten the removal of Netanayhu from Israel, cut a deal with Iran to partner on security for the strait as a shared toll-booth, then to declare victory and leave. 

TSA Charging Extra

Airport and travel fees are already included in air travel ticket prices. Now TSA is asking for $45 for persons without a "Real ID". Many states issue commercial driver licenses with Real ID to illegal aliens, so the "Real ID" show is about training Americans to be compliant. TSA theater continues as a big make-work jobs program. 

As a bank hires it's own security, airports and airlines should do their own security and carry appropriate insurance policies.

Employment Dropping

Employment is dropping for federal government. It seems many federal civilian employess took the generous buyout offer from DOGE. The job count reduction is going in the correct direction.

I wonder when the federal budget will decline. I wonder when citizen's tax burden will decline.

Urkrainian Arrested for Nordstream Sabotage

The world was told Russia destroyed their own pipeline to Germany in 2022. A Ukrainian was recently arrested by Germany for involvement in the Nordstream pipeline sabotage.

 

Ukrainian held in Italy over Nord Stream gas pipelines blast mystery

German prosecutors say a Ukrainian man has been arrested in Italy on suspicion of blowing up the Nord Stream gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea, several months after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

 

The man, identified only as Serhii K, was arrested in the province of Rimini and was part of a group who planted explosives under the Nord Stream 1 and Nord Stream 2 pipelines from Russia to Germany, federal prosecutors say.