The Europeans may find out what it means to so thoroughly piss off the last KGB man in the world. There is all kinds of room for mischief in the middle east now that we have taken the lid off and the rats are scurrying around and it wouldn't surprise me if Putin found a way to capitalize on the oil and gas shortage that now wraps the entire world in its cold clammy embrace.
I think some people and countries that lost sight of the real meaning of diplomacy and statesmanship are about to relearn an important lesson. Every single factor in the world today unites to impel Russia to screw over Europe to the maximum extent possible and they are just the tricky devils to do it. Yes, Europeans would be delighted to pay billions to Iran for reopening the Strait but there is no reason for Russia to accommodate this desire.
I wonder what part will split along the fault lines that must be there already underlying Iranian sovereignty. Perhaps a tinge of Baluchi, who knows. The new People's Democratic Republic of Baluchia lying there along the Strait is going to welcome the pirate submarines and endless drones of the 21st Century. It seems there is always some frisson of nationalism or old tribal hatred that can be inflamed by anybody with a match and the will to find out if it will catch fire.
Who knows, the Iranians may be willing to let their supertankers use the Strait but deny passage to all their GCC enemies who failed the allah test. What a fascinating time to live in America!
I may have to pick up Mark Steyn's books and read them now.
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The BBC recently interviewed General Carsten Breuer, head of Germany's armed forces, who among other things stated that he is rapidly turning Germany’s military into the most powerful conventional force in Europe.
Oh really?
"Beginning in 2026, conscription registration will be carried out via an online questionnaire sent to all 18-year-old German citizens living in Germany. Men are obliged to complete this questionnaire. However, women and people with another gender identity are under no obligation to do so."
So it seems to me anyone who decides to identify as something else are quite easily exempt.
Back to General Breuer, this guy has been in the military since 1984 and is basically a professional civil servant in a uniform. Wikipedia states that he served in Kosovo and Afghanistan. Amusingly, seven of his pretty little ribbons are for Flood Assistance and two are for Forest Fire Service. I kid you not!
When I was stationed in Germany back in the 80's we often worked with the German Bundeswehr. Neither the German Air Force or their Army had any value back then so fast forward to today, it's a train wreck. Even back then, the recruits were badly trained, had no incentive to serve (which is typical of draftees) and were only there for a year.
It's no wonder the majority of their military hardware isn't fit for service given they either don't have the parts or the skills to service and maintain what they do have.
Dr. Eva Högl has been the German Bundestag's Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces since May 25, 2020. In a report she released in 2025 she stated "...it's necessary to reactivate a registration system for conscription. However, an across-the-board draft would overwhelm the military given a shortage of barracks and equipment."
Seriously!? :-\
And these are the "best and brightest" in charge of Germany's defense. One can only imagine how delusional the rest of NATO's leadership really is.
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