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PaperclipPerfector  5d ago (text post)   20681 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of March 9, 2026

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It's probably the case that in a military conflict shipping could pass through it. What won't go through is ordinary commercial shipping, because it isn't worth it. It's the difference between "Iran can get almost every single ship passing through" and "I'm not risking my oil tanker for no real reason."

So it's for all intents and purposes closed to shipping?

There's some wiggle room when hegseth says that it's not closed, and there's also no oil going through it. At some point ships are going to try it in volume and that's the test, isn't it?

Insurers still won't cover it, but supposedly the federal government is working on backstopping losses to get it moving again.

Irans sinking ships docked at port. I don't think anyones questioning whether they'd shoot at blockade runners.

Backstopping losses probably isn't going to make as much of a difference as they think. It's uninsurable for a reason. I carry a lot of insurance on my car, but that doesn't mean I'm going out in an ice storm. Insurance is a consolation prize for unfortunate events, not a license to take on excessive risks. "Captain, we want you to take this ship into a war zone. There's a good likelihood you'll be blown to bits, but don't worry, we'll be sure to send a ham to your widow."

I'd imagine most oil tanker crewmen are braver men than me, but if they told me I was sailing through there... I'd hop out and swim to shore.

I highly suspect the few ships that have transited are paying bribes in crypto to IRGC grand poobahs. Which might be the ultimate result of the whole thing.

Unless you're a madman with equally mad employees

https://see.news/greek-oil-tanker-crosses-strait-of-hormuz-amid-heightened-risks

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