Lamp,

"you are OK with what Pres Trump said to the Pope?"

Are you asking if I agree with Trump, or if I agree that it is fine for Trump to openly disagree with the Pope?

Yes...I think Trump has every right to disagree with the Pope.

I am a Protestant, not a Roman Catholic.

The Pope is revered by many Christians.

To others, including me, he is the head of the Catholic Church, not a leader of Protestants.

His views may matter to Catholics, but they don't carry any special authority for me.

Alex,

"Bill has no spine."

Conversations with Snoofy nearly always transition to personal attacks.

I said what I wanted to say and don't want to follow-up to discuss his misguided opinion.

Also, if I did respond, he'd likely come back with a strawman and expect a conversation about that.

So...no...I don't have to waste my time on that.

And I have a spine which is why I take this sort of approach these days.

Snoofy,

Answer if you want, but I won't reply.

Snoofy,

Are really that biased and blind you can't see the big picture?

Apparently so.

Db,

"BillJohnson is concerned with the commons"

You can't assume that from my post.

I'm talking about Iran having the ability to choke off a major portion of the world's oil supply.

That's basic supply and demand and it impacts the entire global economy.

messed up...try again.

Trump wants to rename the Strait of Hormuz to the Donald Trump Freedom Passage.

Corky,

Trump wants its rename the Strait of Hormuz to the Donald Trump Freedom Passage.

And the posters on this site who side with Iran are ignoring what that strait means to the entire global economy.

It must be safely free to use.

American,

The first time Iran takes action against a ship, Trump has already said the response won't be limited.

I believe it.

That waterway is an international passage.

It's not theirs to control.

American,

"So, now Trump is blockading a strait Iran is already blockading."

The US is clearing a path and reopening it.

And the US isn't going to let Iran operate like pirates running a toll booth.

Please run again.

Corky,

"But enough about Trump's Faith Office... that witch said the other day that saying no to Trump was the same as saying no to God."

Seriously? You're hanging an argument on one person's comment?

#84

"Why you suck up to this criminal rapist traitor murderer is inexplicable."

You don't understand. This isn't about Trump.

This is about Iran. Iran is the issue here.

Focus on that. There'll be plenty of time to talk about Trump later.

Corky,

"Now they are negotiating for fees, too."

That was an agreement for two weeks.

It's easy to agree to something temporary.

I don't think the US really has much appetite to escalate this further.

But I am concerned the US may be dealing with hardline clerics whose authority is rooted in their God.

The ends justify the means, regardless what they believe they're entitled to in the name of Allah.

Laura,

International law under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea recognizes the strait as open to international navigation, with ships having a right of "transit passage."

The navigation rules are treated as standard international practice.

There are military options on the table if Donald Trump chooses to use them.

Iran relies heavily on its ports.

Redial,

"It's their territory."

Wrong.

It's a narrow international waterway, not Iranian territory.

Redial,

Trump will not let Iran hold the world hostage with the strait.

And Trump will not agree to Israel being attacked in any form by anyone.

Just have to see what happens tomorrow.

Redial,

"Back down how?"

Giving up control of the Strait of Hormuz.

And backing off Hezbollah. Giving less money, fewer weapons, and less control over their actions.

Trump won't concede on them. I'm sure there's more.

Corky,

"So does Donald Trump"

If you think Trump is anything like the murderers in Iran, you are sadly mistaken.

My gut feeling is Iran won't back down.

Iran ties its authority directly to God.

Any major concession risks looking like a loss of faith or a loss of confidence in their God.

And in a system like theirs, even appearing to waver isn't just political, it can be dangerous from within their own ranks.

Corky,

"And BJ believed you, lol."

Really?

I didn't figure the billionaire part was true and played along saying he pays people to post.

Funny thing is....you believed that I believed it.

Move on...not worth wasting time on it.

Censor,

Then perhaps I should be getting paid for entertaining everyone.

Rogers...Cash App will be fine.

American,

Then that explains a few things.

He can afford to pay people to post here.

I'd venture to guess there's a few here who are paid.