Straight of Hormuz — there’s more to it 

By: Tuffy Fields

The world has taken a crash course in world geography and especially the Mid- East. I still remember Mrs. Armstrong’s fourth grade geography class and learning all the continents, countries around the world, all the states and state capitals We were fortunate to have had teachers like that and the world of maps wetted the imagination and made the world our oyster. As much as we were taught the Mid-East was not stressed in class and an insignificant ocean straight between two countries viewed as backward and insignificant was not even mentioned. What a difference a few decades makes. 

Several years ago I wrote about how easy it would be for Israel to cripple Iran through the bombing of Kharg Island. It would cripple Iran and the bombing would be of minor risk to Israel. Today the United States and Israel is at war with Iran and even though Kharge Island is functional, the Straights of Hormuz has been closed with the same effect as destroying the island. Iran is not able to ship oil. Unfortunately, petroleum from Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Bahrain, much of the UAE and Qatar can not be shipped through the straights and then on to countries thirsty for oil and oil products.