To Diver Dan- I'm sure you have good reason for suggesting the US Suez/ Oil garrison strategy. But as you probably know Britain almost broke in the attempt to address the Suez Crisis.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Crisis

CM

Totally different circumstances. The current problem is with Iran and its terrorist proxies. The only opposition is from Israel, which has a low priority on protecting international shipping through the Suez Canal. The US is shirking it’s responsibility currently.

Two bases at Irans doorstep would subdue not only Iran, but facilitate peace in the region by their presence, and would directly assist Egypt to reestablish its finances from lost revenue and take the heat of the need it has to align with Turkey, which is developing badly for the US and Israel.

Diver Dan- I like your analysis. China would probably take it personally. And I'm not sure about the money, perhaps they could come to an agreement with Egypt from the increased Suez revenue, to cover the cost of the US presence. Egypt is still suffering from the failed Arab Spring.

Just dreaming for a moment...

This is interesting...

http://www.nextbigfuture.com/2024/03/china-developing-giant-magnetic-launcher-for-hypersonic-space-planes.html
http://asiatimes.com/2024/03/china-building-giant-hypersonic-railgun-for-space-launches/
http://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3255351/nasas-dream-comes-true-china-plans-build-giant-rail-gun-launch-hypersonic-planes-space
http://futurism.com/the-byte/china-giant-rail-gun-astronauts-space

It's somewhat problematic to build your foreign relations policy around in development technology. However maybe something like a giant railgun could provide a glider based electrical transport system (maybe with some thrusting capabilities), that could reduce reliance on Oil and Suez. One technology to solve two problems, an elegant solution if feasible, and there is some question of that. You could launch the gliders from the Mediterranean and the Indian Ocean either high enough to pass above national territories or over friendly ones, and the path could be changed based on changing circumstances, and it would be faster than the Suez Canal. Not sure if it would be cheaper than Oil, but there would be some economies of scale.

As I said it's a dream...

We can’t scoff at the future eg Jules Verne and Dick Tracy. But I prefer to deal with the present; the future is unpredictable the further out you go in time.

Dealing with the future now has crippled the West industrially, with its mad rush away from oil.
Knee-Jerking panic currently on display with leftist fantasies a world stripped of technology and non use of available fossil fuels to save the planet, is that, panic.
The political fools in power, heading the West over a cliff, are bad people.

Here is another unspoken truth: Not only are Politicians in the West devoid of ideas, they are bone lazy.
The damage by terrorists to Suez Canal trade, by blocking the access between the Mediterranean and the Red Sea with random attacks on this shipping rout, has (instead of dealing with the problem), been absorbed by inflation to be blamed on whatever else can be conveniently thrown under the bus as excuse.

The leftist fools lack the fundamental ability to identify the enemy.

Diver Dan- "The leftist fools lack the fundamental ability to identify the enemy."

A- I think the Woke Marxist's (leftist's) identify our enemy very well, they created the enemy, and nurtured the enemy over many years, and now the enemy is here.

I find this whole Jews vs Islam problem very depressing.
When we hear about people being killed and hostages being taken.
Then moslems in Gaza being killed and the terrorists "negotiating".
There is no negotiating just a one sided swap.
It is most depressing because if you look far enough into it there is
no possible solution.
I cannot understand why western politicians keep on and on about a two state solution.
It is just impossible.
When the Arab armies conquered Mesopotainer in the 7th century, which
included Israel their religion in the Koran states that land conquered
by moslams remains Islamic land forever.
I am frightened that the Islamic armies will get hold of Pakistani Nukes.

Also moslams are banned from giving or selling land to non-moslems.
Different kings, emperors, caliphs etc keep expelling the Jews and they
keep coming back. Were the Ottomans the last ones ?
Iran and its hanger ons are the current ones with the same idea.
The Koran and Islam is the source of the problem.
It requires the faithful to make war on the Jews.
It requires the faithful to convert the Jews to Islam or kill them.
The Koran seems to imply that the Jews are too evil to convert.

It would be a solution if they just fought it out but we do get
involved because the Moslems wage war in a brutal way with greater
numbers.
Also they have no compunction in attacking others if insulted or if
the others support the Jews or worse insult Mohammad.