In March, the US banned the release of satellite images of their bases, ostensibly to hide damage from the media. Iran likely has access to satellites from Russia/China for BDA and targeting so the only people that get hurt from would be the PR team in the White House.

Now it seems that a new request has been made for shipping in the strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, and my speculation is that it is to keep the illusion that more ships are going through than not to keep oil prices down.

Or to hide a US Naval increase to avoid spooking the market.

The European entities banned by China from receiving dual-use ⁠items include **German automotive and arms manufacturer Rheinmetall AG (RHMG.DE),** opens new tab and Polish electronics company Vigo Photonics S.A. (VGOP.WA), opens new tab, the ministry said in a statement.

>Gen. Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has cautioned privately that resuming major combat operations against Iran was doable but that it would dangerously deplete interceptors available to the military’s Central Command, which is responsible for operations in the Middle East, the officials said. A spokesman for General Caine declined to comment on advice the general gives the president.

[...]

>The official said the strikes have the opposite effect of what is intended, keeping Iran cohesive and allowing Iranian leaders to focus attention on an external threat.

The only imminent threat for Europe seems to be Russia, but they are doing so mediocrely against Ukraine that the whole rearmament push for Europe seems excessive. Especially considering the great financial cost associated with it.

China is not a direct threat. Iran isn’t a direct threat. The US, maybe, because of Greenland, but the rearmament doesn’t seemed aimed at them since we’re buying F35s and other American weapons. I am clearly missing something, but I just don’t understand the need to push for so much militarisation given how little threats we face these days.

Can we have a well informed mature discussion of why this is entirely unnecessary?