Back in the early 1800s the Houthis would've been called pirates because that is what they are when you eliminate all the bs political justifications they claim to legitimize their attacks on shipping.

Like the Barbary pirates they control a choke point that shipping passes through. And yes ;they are collecting " tribute " from some shippers for the safe passage through .


an exorbitant charge levied by a person or group having the power of coercion


Tribute Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster (https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tribute)


The US fought 2 wars against Barbary because of their piracy .

There is growing evidence that shipping firms (aka "international parties" ) are meeting with the Houthis negotiating a price for safe passage .

Carriers are entering agreements with the Houthis to avoid attacks — ShippingWatch (https://shippingwatch.com/carriers/article16738006.ece)

Yemen's Houthis in Oman-mediated talks over Red Sea 'operations' | Reuters (https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/yemens-houthis-oman-mediated-talks-over-red-sea-operations-2023-12-16/)

Since our infancy as a nation we have considered the safe passage of commerce through the seas as our vital interest . These attacks on shipping ;regardless of who's flagged vessels are being attacked affect the global markets including ours .

We traditionally have defended the safe passage of goods ;especially since the end of WWII . The global world order that came out of the post war is threatened .


And that’s a key point to highlight is that the Houthis, this Iranian terror proxy, are trying to make these attacks all about Israel. But if you look at the 24 attacks in the southern Red Sea since November 19th, almost none of them have anything to do with Israel. You have Bulgarians, Filipinos, the ships are built here, they have this flag on it, they’re registered here, they’re owned by this country. This is truly an attack on the international state system, an idea… And people’s eyes roll when you hear a comment like that. I go back to see previous comment about how our prosperity of our way of life, our economy, and therefore our national security, depend on these things.

Strait Talk on the Houthis (fdd.org) (https://www.fdd.org/podcasts/2024/01/05/strait-talk-on-the-houthis/)

It is not good enough to defensively respond to their attacks. They need to be punished as well as their state sponsor Iran. If it can be done with us leading a coalition ;fine . But with or without one our response must be clear and unambiguous .

Today’s defensive action follows this extensive diplomatic campaign and Houthi rebels’ escalating attacks against commercial vessels. These targeted strikes are a clear message that the United States and our partners will not tolerate attacks on our personnel or allow hostile actors to imperil freedom of navigation in one of the world’s most critical commercial routes. I will not hesitate to direct further measures to protect our people and the free flow of international commerce as necessary.

Statement from President Joe Biden on Coalition Strikes in Houthi-Controlled Areas in Yemen | The White House (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/01/11/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-coalition-strikes-in-houthi-controlled-areas-in-yemen/)


These precision strikes were intended to disrupt and degrade the capabilities the Houthis use to threaten global trade and the lives of international mariners in one of the world’s most critical waterways..

Joint Statement from the Governments of Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, United Kingdom, and the United States | The White House (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/01/11/joint-statement-from-the-governments-of-australia-bahrain-canada-denmark-germany-netherlands-new-zealand-republic-of-korea-united-kingdom-and-the-united-states/)

defensive actions .... targeted strikes ... precision strikes .... disrupt and degrade .
In the words of Clueless Joe ...... MALARKY !!!! And they are Iran's proxy terrorists NOT REBELS !!!!!

Listen to General Keane .

Gen. Jack Keane: Biden's diplomatic effort with Iran has gotten us nowhere | Fox News Video (https://www.foxnews.com/video/6344745316112)


Punish them and hold Iran accountable . For every ship attacked reciprocate with an Iran target . Iran has their proxy shooting at ships ? Take out one of Iran's oil ports or pipelines. Let's start with an obvious one ...... are the Iran assets frozen again ? Of course not !!!!!

Evidently Mr. Biden is fearful lest we hurt their feelings. If Trump is elected, the attacks will stop the day prior to his inauguration.

Hilarious ;the Squad Dems are attacking Quid for authorizing the strikes on the Houthis.

‘This Is Illegal’: Biden Takes Heat From Fellow Dems After Greenlighting Houthi Strike | The Daily Caller (https://dailycaller.com/2024/01/11/this-is-illegal-biden-takes-heat-from-fellow-dems-after-greenlighting-houthi-strike/)

Get this ;they are citing Article 1 of the Constitution's Congressional power to declare war. (like that ever stopped Presidents of either party from shooting whenever they feel the need . )

They are no doubt remembering the declaration of war that preceeded our involvements in Korea and Vietnam. No...uhm, wait.

Yesterday Clueless Joe admitted that US strikes against the Houthis has failed to deter them .


Asked at the White House whether the strikes are working, the president responded: “When you say working are they stopping the Houthis? No.”
“Are they going to continue? Yes,” he added.


Biden concedes Houthis haven’t been deterred from carrying out attacks as US launches further strikes | CNN Politics (https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/18/politics/biden-houthi-strikes/index.html)


To put an exclamation point on it ;they attacked another US flagged vessel

Third Houthi Terrorists Attack on Commercial Shipping Vessel in Three Days > U.S. Central Command > Press Release View (centcom.mil) (https://www.centcom.mil/MEDIA/PRESS-RELEASES/Press-Release-View/Article/3649828/third-houthi-terrorists-attack-on-commercial-shipping-vessel-in-three-days/#:~:text=%E2%80%93%20On%20Jan.%2018%20at%20approxi mately,the%20water%20near%20the%20ship.)

One would think that our high dollar military could simply do away with the assets used by the Houthis to carry out their attacks. Oh well. I have no doubt that Trump, DeSantis, or Haley would fairly quickly put an end to this.

Clueless Joe and his minions are idiots . Israel had their citizens brutally massacred by Hamas terrorists So what does Joe do ? He attacks Bibi and has Blinken speak of a 2 state solution.

Antony Blinken renews calls for path to Palestinian state; Gaza war deaths top 24,000 - UPI.com (https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2024/01/17/switzerland-wef-antony-blinken-palestinian-state-gaza-israel/8631705492883/)

Does he really think the Israelis are in the mood to talk about a 2 state solution while being attacked from Hamas ;Hezzbollah ;and from Iran proxies ?

Meanwhile in Panama.

Panama Canal traffic cut by more than a third because of drought | AP News (https://apnews.com/article/panama-canal-global-trade-routes-drought-climate-change-bd76a77825a2e8e751a24346f8fd54a9)

Expect to see the price consequences of the supply chain disruptions soon .

Meanwhile any doubt that Iran is the center of gravity in all the ME regional conflicts can be put to bed.

Monday the IRGC took credit for firing missiles into the Kurdish region of Iraq ,and Syria to attack what they claim was an Israeli's Mossad HQ


“Ballistic missiles were used to destroy espionage centres and gatherings of anti-Iranian terrorist groups in the region,” the IRGC said, adding that it fired 11 missiles, state media reported.

Iran launches missile strikes in Iraq and Syria citing security threats | Israel War on Gaza News | Al Jazeera (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/1/15/irans-revolutionary-guard-attack-anti-iranian-groups-in-iraqs-erbil)

Then on Tuesday they launched missiles into Pakistan. Pakistan retaliated with their own strikes into Iran,

They used to rely only on proxies . But now they have increasingly made direct attacks . AND in striking at a nuclear power, Iran may be signaling gloves off .

The US and our coalition of the feeble flexed their muscles and the Houthis(who we call a terrorist group but in reality rule the nation of Yemen) and their masters in Tehran laughed . If anything their actions are if anything getting bolder .

We did a pin prick attack after a missile fired from Yemen struck a Brit flagged tanker and set it afire.

Houthis attack British-linked tanker Marlin Luanda in Gulf of Aden (bbc.com) (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68110358)

In a bold statement ;the Brits "reserved the right to respond " (should I add a <sarc> ?)
“We have been clear that any attacks on commercial shipping are completely unacceptable and that the UK and our allies reserve the right to respond appropriately.”

UK ‘reserves right to respond’ after oil tanker set alight off Yemen | Yemen | The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/jan/26/vessel-on-fire-after-being-struck-off-coast-of-yemen-amid-houthi-threats)

Meanwhile a drone on the Syrian-Lebanese border killed American troops . There have been more than 150 attacks on US troops since the start of the Gaza war. This was the 1st that killed US troops .The number of serious casualties from these attacks do not often get recorded ;including severe brain trauma.

Iran-backed attacks on US troops in the Middle East since Oct. 7 | Reuters (https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/iran-backed-attacks-us-troops-middle-east-since-oct-7-2024-01-28/)


Clueless Joe threw down the gauntlet (<sarc>)

And have no doubt — we will hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner our choosing.

Statement from President Joe Biden on Attack on U.S. Service Members in Northeastern Jordan Near the Syria Border | The White House (https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/01/28/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-attack-on-u-s-service-members-in-northeastern-jordan-near-the-syria-border/)

I don't know why we don't just waste them . Actually yes I do. We are too busy preparing for the nuke war we want with Russia.

US planning to station nuclear weapons in UK amid threat from Russia – report | UK news | The Guardian (https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/jan/26/us-planning-to-station-nuclear-weapons-in-uk-amid-threat-from-russia-report)

NATO Begins Largest Exercise Since Cold War > U.S. Department of Defense > Defense Department News (https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3656703/nato-begins-largest-exercise-since-cold-war/)


You see we sacrificed as many Ukrainians as we could to soften the Russians

Ukraine Can Win a War of Attrition | Wilson Center (https://www.wilsoncenter.org/blog-post/ukraine-can-win-war-attrition)

Update the drought in Panama has not improved. Traffic in the canal brings ships to Lake Gatun . But the lake is perilously low due to El Nino . The canal uses a series of locks to bring traffic UP to the lake . It is not a sea level canal. The drought is causing a critical slowdown in canal traffic. In some cases cargo is off loaded and transported by train to the other side.


Beyond Scarcity: How the Canal Manages the Fresh Water Challenge - Autoridad del Canal de Panamá (pancanal.com) (https://pancanal.com/en/how-the-canal-manages-the-fresh-water-challenge/)



Michael Yon took a ride on the train and took a picture of the lake that feeds the canal . Exposed tree stumps vividly demonstrate the water level danger .

panama canal - Search / X (twitter.com) (https://twitter.com/Michael_Yon/status/1751389057727291894/photo/1)

Combine that with the perils of transit to the Red Sea and the Suez Canal ; we are about to have a real supply chain issue. As you recall ; supply chain disruptions partly fueled the inflation we have experienced.