[ExI] I hate to say it but, I agree with Trump

[spike at rainier66.com]

From: John Clark <johnkclark at gmail.com> 
Sent: Thursday, 3 September, 2026 5:52 AM
To: spike at rainier66.com
Cc: ExI chat list <extropy-chat at lists.extropy.org>; Ben Zaiboc <benzaiboc at proton.me>
Subject: Re: [ExI] I hate to say it but, I agree with Trump

 

On Wed, Sep 2, 2026 at 5:04 PM <spike at rainier66.com <mailto:spike at rainier66.com> > wrote:

 

> We have known for decades that there are threats from Iran which are long term. 

 

>…Everybody has known for many decades that the Strait of Hormuz is a potential choke point for the world's economy…

 

So why did we allow the danger to continue?  That should have been resolved decades ago.  By closing off that strait, we starve a theocracy and raise the price of crude, which enables alternative oil fields to resume operations profitably and enables alternative energy sources.  What I don’t fully understand is why the current POTUS didn’t close off that strait in his first term.  

 

>… this time the US was already attacking Iran with everything it had…

 

How do you know this?

 

>… but it turned out that attack was not as bad as Iran expected it to be…

 

Ja, it only sunk their navy.  No nukes or carpet bombing of Tehran.  What a relief, ja?

 

>… the Strait of Hormuz is now experiencing the longest and most complete disruption in its history…

 

You make that sound like it is a bad thing.  As a big fan of wind power, it is a gift to the industry.

  

 

>…It will take many billions of dollars…

 

Ja.  

 

>… years if not decades to build new pipelines…

 

So what’s the big hurry?  Knowing how long it will take to build those out keeps investment capital flowing into US oil fields.  What happened before is that OPEC kept restricting its exports, allow huge amounts of capital to flow into US and Canadian oil production, then when it was ready to go, they would open the strait, causing widespread loss and bankruptcy.  Now, if we know the strait will be indefinitely shut down or restricted, capital will flow into pipelines to port the oil to safe harbors.

 

>…The situation is even worse when it comes to Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)…

 

So invest in domestic natural gas resources, enabled by fracking.

 

>… And there isn't a LNG pipeline in the area nor as far as I know any plans to build one….

 

There is plenty of natural gas outside the Middle East.

 

>…And pipelines do not solve the problem of cheap but dangerous and very numerous Iranian drones because it's just not feasible to defend every single mile of a pipeline that is many hundreds of miles long….

 

On the contrary, the pipes go underground.  It isn’t that hard to create tunnels in which oil pipes can be placed safely out of reach of air attack.

 

>…We know this for a fact because it has already happened. 

 

>…Iran struck Saudi Arabia oil pipeline <https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/saudi-arabias-east-west-oil-pipeline-hit-iranian-attack-damage-being-assessed-2026-04-08/?utm_source=chatgpt.com> 

 

Think about that John.  Iran has long dreamed of uniting the Middle East, under the control of the Ayatollah.  Because Iran has attacked its neighbors and alienated them, this unification of all those oil producing countries will not happen. 

 

>…And Spike, we both know that if President Biden had gotten us into a ridiculous situation like this, a war with no clear-cut goals and no end in sight, you'd be screaming to high heaven about it; but because King Donald was the one who made the blunder your tribal loyalty kicks over into high gear and you feel obliged to defend the man no matter what. 

 

John K Clark

 

On the contrary John, it is your tribal loyalty which is regularly on display in this forum.  I do invite you to look thru my comments in the ExI archives, and note that I do not comment on government policy.  I do however comment early and often on government corruption, which has been very clear.  I comment on lawfare, for that is what concerns libertarians most.  In the past decade we have seen the most clear cases of lawfare ever in my lifetime.

 

Numerous examples available on request.

 

spike

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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