This is the transcript of 'Cut The Clutter' Episode 1816 examining the complexities & hypocrisies as Pakistan tries to play mediator in the Gulf war, & why India should keep away.
British newspaper reports that Munir spoke with Trump Sunday, as Pakistan, along with Türkiye & Egypt, emerges as key nations attempting to mediate an end to the ongoing conflict.
Why should the US care? Because in the end, as its wrangle with Britain this week should have reminded them, America still needs bases, friendly ports, & overfly rights.
American military doesn’t have weeks to do so — only days. The waterway is world’s most important oil chokepoint, transporting about 20% of world’s crude & refined petroleum products.
Iran’s best bet is to drag the US into a prolonged and costly ground war to defeat it through exhaustion, as happened in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and partially in Iraq.
Led by Saudi Arabia and Russia, the group was set to resume modest output hikes from April after a three-month freeze. In Q4, it added 137,000 barrels a day each month.
The crude flows in the Strait of Hormuz largely originate from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Qatar and move to China, India, Japan and South Korea.
Mizoram chief minister Lalduhoma has flagged an unusual rise in foreign arrivals. Nearly 2,000 Western visitors entered Mizoram between June and December 2024.
It’s easy to understand why the government can’t speak the hard truth. When this war ends, as all wars do, India’s interests will lie with both the winner and the loser.
Regime change will be unavoidable in Iran. Majority of the population is against theocratic rule. Khamenei is in hiding and he is likely to be eliminated by Israel when he comes out, paving way for a democratic non-theocratic rule. Public there may be able to show more fearlessness because the Ayatollah is weakened.
In contrast, our air force is made up a 1947-built mosquito and a new India-made, light-weight insect. These two are supposed to deter China and Pakistan. Apparently, the money left after freebies, subsidies, loan waivers, & corruption could buy only the mosquito and & the insect.
It is true that Iran capitulated, but it is the most practical decision. Iran can now focus on development. In fact it should start dialogue with USA so that the economic sanctions can be lifted. It just needs to declare that all its nuclear stock pile is devastated. It also has to forgo sponsoring terrorists in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, etc. and work to bring back its economy to a growth path.
Regime change will be unavoidable in Iran. Majority of the population is against theocratic rule. Khamenei is in hiding and he is likely to be eliminated by Israel when he comes out, paving way for a democratic non-theocratic rule. Public there may be able to show more fearlessness because the Ayatollah is weakened.
Kuch toh sharm Kar lo General.
In contrast, our air force is made up a 1947-built mosquito and a new India-made, light-weight insect. These two are supposed to deter China and Pakistan. Apparently, the money left after freebies, subsidies, loan waivers, & corruption could buy only the mosquito and & the insect.
It is true that Iran capitulated, but it is the most practical decision. Iran can now focus on development. In fact it should start dialogue with USA so that the economic sanctions can be lifted. It just needs to declare that all its nuclear stock pile is devastated. It also has to forgo sponsoring terrorists in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, etc. and work to bring back its economy to a growth path.