The Houthi Blockade of the Red Sea
From John H
Friday, 26 January 2024
The Houthi Blockade of the Red Sea continues and strengthens, despite US and UK bombing. This is likely to cause a significant increase in inflation from March, as shipping costs have already increased sharply and goods will also be in shorter supply.
The blockade is not amenable to a 'knee jerk' bombing solution. The Houthis have already survived and prospered for 10 years whilst British and US bombs were dropped on them daily by Saudis and Emiratis; a few more from the home teams isn't going to bother them. The Saudis and Emiratis eventually opted for a ceasefire and negotiation with the Houthis.
Similarly, despite the huge human cost, HAMAS have survived everything that Israel has thrown at them and is reported to be re-emerging in Northern Gaza.
The International Court of Justice is pointing the way; time to get a ceasefire in Gaza and compel Israel to negotiate a just settlement accepted by the Palestinians. Let's finally accomplish what the martyred Nobel Peace Prize winners, Yasser Arafat and Yitzak Rabin, started. This will solve the Red Sea Blockade and many other problems that have poisoned the Middle East for decades. It will also be a fitting epitaph to ornament the graves of those Nobel men.
From John Murphy
Thursday, 14 March 2024
John, What has actually "poisoned" the Middle East for decades, is the constant meddling from other nations, including the UK.
The Houthis target shipping because they know all the West care about is their economy. Like the Hamas tunnel system, the disruption to shipping is strategically brilliant.
They make it possible to fight against the most modern militaries in the world. Those 21st century weapons the UK develop and use overseas to mutilate children, aren't much use when you're deep underground or using small drones in the case of the Houthis.
The UK / US obsession with the Middle East is no coincidence. Let's say it as it is: They are oil rich nations, and the countries which invaded them are oil hungry. It is not our role to decide a Government for other nations, especially when the best our democracy has come up with is three successive buffoons; Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak.