Let OPEC enforce freedom of navigation for their commerce interests.
Frankly, I don't give a damn about the Persian Gulf nor the Strait of Hormuz. If Asia, India, and Europe want to hitch their wagons to shipping oil through the Strait of Hormuz, that's their choice and their acceptance of risk for that region to supply their energy.
Sounds like a real noble statement.
Unfortunately, the US nor can the world accept that type of situation.
He who controls the resources of the Middle East can control the world's commerce. That has been true since the largest oil field in the world was discovered by SoCal(Chevron) in 1938. The quality and quantity of ME oil since, the ease of production and ready export access completely changed the world's economy since.
Many excursions around the world toward oil production have been made, but the Gulf's production is unmatched.
Should our enemies such as China gain that access to its crude, the US will be greatly disadvantaged and there is no question our standard of living will shrink subsequently, while our enemies are emboldened.
I believe all of this is known to Trump as his deal making appears to be attempting to bring in others to share the military responsibilities with primarily Israel, friendly ME countries (both groups threatened) and Europeans, who have turned out to be much worse at a solution than thought, both militarily and resolve, in spite of their desperate need for ME crude and LNG.
Conflict resolution can either be done the Truman way by destruction or by a strong alliance of countries all threatened by a militant neighbor Iran.
Israel has been a strong partner as they wish to survive in face of a genocidal and maniacal enemy. Friendly ME countries have for the most part done a cautious but favorable job with a powerful and evil neighbor who indiscriminately attacks them. It is the Europeans which I believe are causing the breakdown of an alliance to overcome Iran.
We know the US can destroy Iran if it wishes. Just like we did to Iraq. We also know what happened when we were virtually the sole policemen of that country following war's aftermath. History judges it a failure.
None wish that to happen in Iran. Seemingly, we have a large part of the populace eager to make a change away from the present IRGC. How to make that happen without wanton destruction and bombing like Japan was subject to is the big Q.
I do hope of lot of that coalition building, continuing strikes at key personnel in the IRGC, and how to arm the Iranian population without creating another IRGC is happening in the background while the smoke screen being projected by Trump on getting a deal done with Iran is occupying the news.
