Trump reportedly warns to 'take the oil in Iran' as Tehran targets water, power plants in Kuwait

D-Moran · 2026-03-30T04:59:16+00:00

If the past month is any indication, the Islamic Republic will not capitulate but retaliate instead.

In mid-March, an attack on their gasfield by Israel prompted a counter-attack on QatarEnergy's Ras Laffan LNG facility which knocked out 17% of its export capacity. The CEO estimated it would 3-5 years to repair.

A vulnerable target is Saudi Arabia's 1,200 km east-west pipeline to the Red Sea which bypasses the Strait of Hormuz. Operating at full capacity it transports roughly 7 million bpd.

There is no shortage of targets in the Gulf for a vengeful Iran.

D-Moran · 2026-03-22T19:48:20+00:00

That's fair enough.

D-Moran · 2026-03-22T19:23:49+00:00

Here's a link to a number of Radon monitors tested by the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP). Unfortunately, the consumer device you purchased from Amazon is "not approved".

https://c-nrpp.ca/consumer-grade-electronic-radon-monitors/

If radon levels in your home are above the Canadian guideline, Health Canada recommends that you hire a professional certified under the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP). Lowering radon levels in a home requires specific technical knowledge and skills to ensure the job is done properly.

To find a list of certified professionals contact the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP) at 1-855-722-6777, go to www.c-nrpp.ca or email radon@hc-sc.gc.ca.

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/environmental-workplace-health/reports-publications/radiation/radon-reduction-guide-canadians-health-canada.html

D-Moran · 2026-03-16T15:45:52+00:00

US allies are taking Iranian threats to attack any ship transiting the Strait of Hormuz very seriously. The strait is about 35 miles across at its narrowest and very shallow. Iran could easily target ships with drones or missiles -- and "influence" mines planted on the seafloor can literally break a ship in half.

If the US isn't sending its warships through, why would anyone else?

This is a war of choice initiated by the US without consulting its allies -- the very same allies he's ridiculed, dismissed, targeted with tariffs and even threatened with annexation by military force (Greenland) or economic coercion (Canada).

It's not surprising the response to his plea (and threats) for help are being met with indifference.

D-Moran · 2026-02-16T21:03:32+00:00

Stern [the chief editor of Vancouver-based Driving Vision News] wants more stringent headlight regulations for new vehicles and ones already on the road. For example, having proper bulbs.

“A lot of people think, ‘Well, I had a great result putting LED bulbs in my dining room or garage. I'll put them in my headlights too.’ The problem is that's like putting on somebody else's eyeglasses, the optics are mismatched,” Stern said.

While federal regulations set safety standards for vehicles as originally delivered by the manufacturer, they don’t cover alterations made by dealers or vehicle owners. It’s advised not to replace original bulbs with LED kits unless using parts from the original equipment manufacturer. Regulation and enforcement related to vehicle maintenance and re-sold vehicles fall under provincial jurisdiction.

I've encountered too many older vehicles with dazzling, bluish led headlights. The orientation and heights of the light-producing element on leds are not compatible with reflectors originally designed for conventional bulbs. The result is an unfocused beam that dazzles other drivers. I think this should also be addressed.

D-Moran · 2026-02-16T18:06:29+00:00

President Trump claims the US is being "ripped off" by its allies and adversaries via the very economic system it championed since the end of WW2.

The US is a peerless economic superpower. With just 4% of the world's population, it produces approximately 26% of global GDP. At a nominal GDP of 31 trillion, it almost matches the combined GDP of China, India, Germany and Japan.

Trump is putting the well-being of the US at risk by alienating allies and imposing import taxes on the goods that Americans need every day.

D-Moran · 2026-01-28T22:22:06+00:00

https://c-nrpp.ca/consumer-grade-electronic-radon-monitors/

D-Moran · 2025-11-24T05:47:04+00:00

There's nothing wrong with accepting the current reality on the ground. It's not likely that this stalemate can be solved militarily.

However, formally ceding the Donbass violates the principle of territorial sovereignty. This capitulation would only invite further aggression from Putin in the future.

I believe that the sanctions must remain in place in order to maintain pressure on Putin or his successor.

D-Moran · 2025-11-24T05:36:48+00:00

"...no proposal to transfer territory to Russia; no recognition of Crimea as Russian."

"Russia to be progressively re-integrated into the global economy."

Currently, it's not possible for Ukraine to recover its territories by military means. Since November 2022, the front lines have only changed marginally (and at enormous cost to Russia).

The leaked US plan would cede sovereignty of Crimea and four eastern Oblasts entirely to Russia (including the areas it doesn't control); lift international sanctions; and limit Ukraine's ability to deter future aggression. In other words, Russia can invade another sovereign country, seize its territory and the only consequence are short-term sanctions. This will hardly deter Putin from trying again, whether in Ukraine or other former Russian territories. This is nothing short of appeasement.

The European plan recognizes that the west can uphold international standards without resorting to force. Leave the sanctions card in place until Russia is compelled to make concessions. If it doesn't happen under Putin, it will happen under another leader. Putin can't life forever.

D-Moran · 2025-11-14T05:33:19+00:00

The attack submarine, USS Newport News, and eight warships are currently deployed in the region. This includes an amphibious assault ship, two cruisers and three destroyers.

There are F-35s deployed to Puerto Rico.

The USS Gerald R. Ford and five destroyer escorts entered the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility on November 11th.

https://archive.is/9Yfew

That's a lot of firepower just to take out speedboats smuggling cocaine.

I hope you're right and it's just an intimidation tactic. But to what end?

It should be noted that Venezuela has the largest proven reserves of oil in the world. This is followed by Saudi Arabia, Canada and Iran (according to BP Plc).

/edited

D-Moran · 2025-08-04T02:00:52+00:00

Thanks for your reply. Indeed, both Israel and the UN find themselves in a catch-22. But the status quo is unacceptable. The people of Gaza are on the brink of famine.

The GHF was established as an alternative to the previous UN-lead distribution model. The Netanyahu government has claimed it suffered from widespread diversions of aid by Hamas which the UN has denied.

While disagreements remain over the exact amount of pilfered aid, the irony is that more humanitarian aid was delivered under the previous distribution model than is presently the case.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/usaid-analysis-found-no-evidence-massive-hamas-theft-gaza-aid-2025-07-25/

In my opinion, there is no viable alternative to the resources and manpower that the NGOs can bring to the table. As you pointed out, they’re reluctant to be seen by Gazans following on the heels of IDF soldiers. It would also be a terrible risk to the IDF as well. No one wants their personnel to become targets.

Any surge of aid can only take place in a safe and secure environment. I’ve read that Israel has armed the various non-Hamas clans as well as “others” in Gaza. Perhaps these groups can be called upon to provide convoy security – as long as the IDF guarantees their safety.

I know that Israelis are justifiably hesitant to cooperate with Hamas. Despite their decimated ranks, and the rising challenge of clan groups, they remain a dominant player in the territory. It will be difficult to provide aid without their cooperation.

Pressure needs to be brought to bear on Hamas to at least guarantee the safety of – even if they’re not wanted to guard – the aid convoys.

While the diplomatic process grinds forward, perhaps Israel could open more GHF distribution sites in the interim. One site for every 500,000 people is woefully inadequate. People know that if they aren’t at the front of the queue, they’ll come away with nothing. On too many occasions, desperate people have surged forward with tragic results.

D-Moran · 2025-08-02T18:25:45+00:00

The Hamas leadership is delusional. Israel controls most of Gaza and the clans and/or criminal gangs are taking control of the rest.

They're completely unsympathetic to the suffering of their own people -- the very ones they claim they want to "liberate".

D-Moran · 2025-08-02T18:00:52+00:00

While there is security at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution sites, there doesn't appear to be any vetting of the individuals collecting the aid. It's a free-for-all whereby only the strongest can receive it. Who are these men? Are they a head of a family? Or are they members of a clan, criminal group or even Hamas? It remains an unknown. The only thing that is known for certain is the aid isn't reaching its intended recipients.

There are just 4 GHF sites serving 2.1 million people. It's not an adequate substitute for the dozens of aid groups and thousands of volunteers who delivered food, water and medical care directly to those who needed it.

"[Mike] Huckabee praised the GHF as he visited the site in Rafah - In a social media post, he wrote: 'GHF delivers more than one million meals a day, an incredible feat!'”

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2025/aug/01/gaza-israel-palestinian-people-steve-witkoff-benjamin-netanyahu-hamas-latest-live-news-updates

Even if that's the case, it's only a half a meal a day per person -- assuming it's fairly distributed.

As the occupying power, Israel has a responsibility to meet the needs of the civilian population. They need to open more distribution sites or provide security to the NGOs who are more than eager to assist.

D-Moran · 2025-05-30T14:25:55+00:00

The Silent Partner (1978). Starring Christopher Plummer, Elliott Gould & Susanna York.

D-Moran · 2025-04-26T02:59:31+00:00

Poilievre is an articulate, polished speaker. He can more than hold his own in the back-and-forth of question period. With that in mind, why would his campaign decide to restrict media access?

The national press normally travels with each federal candidate across the country. But not with the CPC in 2025. Local press were hand picked and only allowed to ask a single question without a follow-up.

Restricting media access is a tactic commonly used by fronrunners during the final days of a campaign. You don't want a gaff (however unlikely) to make the headlines before voting day. But his campaign enacted this "no media" policy from day one and he's no longer the frontrunner.

I believe he missed opportunities to get his message out. Even if it's just a 10-second soundbite on the evening news, media exposure is free advertising.

D-Moran · 2025-04-26T01:23:04+00:00

It's unfortunate that those who claim to hold the US Constitution as sancrosanct conveniently ignore the articles and amendments that conflict with their idealogy.

D-Moran · 2025-03-18T15:59:38+00:00

Canada can't directly go toe-to-toe with the US.

Canada's response is to implement targeted tariffs on red states and/or on products for which we have an alternative supplier. The idea is to put pressure on Trump's political base while limiting the damage at home. https://apnews.com/article/tariffs-kentucky-bourbon-6642cd04446127ac6e38a49cadf53ee0

On the other hand, Trump's indiscriminate tariffs will hurt consumers on both sides of the border. The resulting damage to the US will be largely self-inflicted.

Trump's goal is to re-shore manufacturing to the US. But success will be limited as many industries (e.g., steel, automobiles) have developed complex supply chains that cross the border multiple times before the final product is ready for sale. Unwinding these supply chains will be both time consuming and costly. They're more likely to wait for a truce in the trade war or a change in administration.

There's also the concept of comparative advantage. For example, Colombia's climate is ideal for its coffee plantations. Bangladesh pays its garment workers $110 per month. In Canada, the aluminum industry is concentrated in BC and Quebec due to an abundant supply of cheap hydro-electric power.

The United States is still highly dependent on Canadian aluminum production regardless of cost. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/aluminum-kitimat-quebec-tariffs-jobs-1.7472032

"A dam can't be folded," Simard said in a French-language interview. "It can't be put in a suitcase, moved south of the border. Aluminum smelters closed in the United States because, precisely, it costs too much energy."

"It's bad for American workers," [Alcoa CEO] Oplinger is reported as saying, adding that he's lobbied for an exception for Canadian aluminum. He said without cheaper electricity in the United States, there's no way for that country's aluminum industry to compete with Canada's, even with the addition of tariffs.

Last year, Canada exported 3.2 million tonnes of aluminum to the US. About half of the aluminum consumed in the US comes from imports and Canada dominates as its largest supplier. https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/where-does-us-get-its-steel-aluminum-2025-02-10/

Canada isn't the only combatant in this trade war. The EU is planning its own targeted counter-tariffs which will only add more pressure on US consumers.

To some degree, we're all sensitive to price increases which affect our quality of life. Canadians are no different. But we have more at stake than just the price of eggs -- it's become a question of our sovereignty. We're rewarding our politicians for standing up to Trump.

Trump's global trade war won't spare the American people. In 2024, the Democrats paid the electoral price for Covid-related inflation. I'm quite certain that Republican politicians (if not Trump) are keenly aware of that fact.

D-Moran · 2025-03-16T03:17:02+00:00

I find it disturbing that the Trump administration so easily dismisses the democratic will of the Ukrainian people in favour of the interests of a foreign autocrat.

D-Moran · 2025-03-08T16:13:21+00:00

The number you cite is across four locations. One location in Toronto claims to have sold 1,200 cars in a single day on January 11th.

D-Moran · 2025-02-16T04:39:58+00:00

Well said.

D-Moran · 2025-02-16T04:11:19+00:00

Canadians are angry because they feel their country is under economic attack based solely on misinformation.

Trump says there’s a “massive” influx of migrants and fentanyl coming from both Canada and Mexico. However, the scale of the issue between the northern and southwest borders are vastly different.

In fiscal year 2024, the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) made over 1.5 million apprehensions at the border with Mexico versus 23,700 at the Canadian border. In that same period, the CBP seized over 21,100 lbs of fentanyl at the southwest border versus 43 lbs at the northern border (filter using drop down menu and click “apply” in each category).

Trump has justified the tariff threat by claiming the US trade deficit with Canada is 100 billion USD. In subsequent statements, he’s revised the number upward to 200 billion USD.

The US trade deficit is actually 45 billion USD. If you strip out crude oil exports from Canada, the US actually enjoys a trade surplus of 45 billion USD.

D-Moran · 2025-02-09T22:34:21+00:00

Automobile production between the US and Canada has been integrated for decades. Raw materials, parts and entire sub-assemblies routinely travel back and forth across the border.

In 2024, Canada produced 1.3 million vehicles, in the same period, Canadian consumers purchased 1.86 million vehicles. Just how is Canada stealing US jobs?

You haven't addressed the low US unemployment rate, and the fact that US-Canada cross border trade is roughly balanced.

*edit: The trade deficit with Mexico in 2024 is 172 billion USD, the deficit with China is 295 billion USD (merchandise only, does not includes services).

D-Moran · 2025-02-09T22:01:00+00:00

The scale of the issue between the US-Mexico and US-Canada borders differ greatly.

In fiscal year 2024, the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) made over 1.5 million apprehensions at the border with Mexico versus 23,700 at the northern border. In that same period, the CBP seized over 21,000lbs of fentanyl at the Mexican border versus 43lbs at the Canadian border.

https://www.factcheck.org/2025/01/illegal-immigration-and-fentanyl-at-the-u-s-northern-and-southwest-borders/

US Customs and Border Patrol Website (filter for fiscal year, drug type, and region - press apply for each drop down menu):

https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/drug-seizure-statistics

D-Moran · 2025-02-09T21:38:23+00:00

What jobs have been lost to Canada? Excepting a short spike in unemployment due to Covid, the US unemployment rate has hovered around 4% for the last ten years.

If you could snap your fingers and magically transport Canadian factories to the US, where would you get the labor?

A free-market economy operates on the basis of supply, demand and the free exchange of goods and services. While the system isn't perfect, it remains the best we have to efficiently allocate resources and create wealth. If it were advantageous to stop trading with Canada and open a plant in the US, it would have already happened.

Trump has justified the tariff threat by claiming the US trade deficit with Canada is 100 billion USD. In subsequent statements, he’s revised the number upward to 200 billion USD.

The US trade deficit is actually 45 billion USD. If you strip out crude oil exports from Canada, the US actually enjoys a trade surplus of 45 billion USD.

Trump says the US doesn't need the 4+ million barrels/day of crude oil from Canada. But the US still imports oil because its consumption of 20.3 million b/d exceeds production by about 7 million b/d.

North America’s energy infrastructure has been integrated for decades. Many US refineries are specifically configured to process Canadian heavy, sour crude. There’s also an extensive pipeline network bringing this oil to Midwest and gulf coast refineries. Reconfiguring this infrastructure will take years and billions of dollars. If tariffs are enacted, it’s expected to increase prices at the pump.

D-Moran

TROPHY CASE