Environment & Energy

Listening to an oil industry anaylst on CNN this morning. He made it clear that opening the Strait of Hormuz will not result in an overnight drop of gas prices to Trump's beloved $1.85 per gallon. Because:

-- All the ships in the Strait must move. Full tankers, empty tankers, cargo vessels, naval vessels -- all have to go somewhere. The Strait is narrow; ships cannot move in large numbers. How long to actually open the Strait? Who knows.

-- The Saudis and the rest of the MidEastern oil-producing countries cut back their production because of transport disruptions. They will not ramp up production immediately.

-- Insurance companies are raising their rates for maritime insurance for traffic in, around, and through the Strait and the rest of the MIdEast. This will cause some -- hopefully small -- reduction in traffic through the Strait.

Bottom line:
-- The Strait of Hormuz will not "open" any time soon.
-- Oil prices will come down very slowly -- VERY slowly.
-- Trump, Vance, and the rest of the gang will lie and lie and lie.
-- We gained NOTHING for 13 dead soldiers, 500 wounded soldiers, and God-only-knows how many billiions of $$$ wasted.