THE THREE H’s

Right now Iran is playing US foreign policy like a fiddle.

Through proxies fighting Israel such as Hamas, and Hezbollah, the latest H to reel in the US is the Houthis in Yemen encroaching on the free flow of shipping off their shores in vital International waters.

And of course, whatever the US does these days, the UK has to follow!

Where’s the great diplomats of the world?

It’s not that long ago that China brokered an agreement between the Houthis and Saudi Arabia to lay off one another in a complete bloody war that killed many thousands of civilians inside Yemen.

China has gone around the world in recent decades reaping what they sow without firing a single shot…yet as I’ve said in the past many times…making a killing. From Africa to Afghanistan, making deals to take what’s required from under the ground from copper to rare earth materials (REM). Making deals for access to deep water ports for civilian and military shipping. Making deals to link up roads as part of their belt and road project of 2013 to link up landlocked Central Asia to China. Again, without firing a shot in anger, yet making a killing so to speak.

The latest response tonight to attack Houthi targets inside Yemen lead by the US, is in my view the US being reeled in by Iran, yes the US completely taking the bait. It’s costly both in lives and $$$$$, and given the next chapter alongside the Israel v Hamas scenario inside Gaza, and the US and UKs complete backing to Israel, without global diplomacy taking place, this now is only going to head south very quickly.

I mention China for a very good reason.

The free flow of global shipping being stemmed right now by the Houthis affects China as much as any one else. Their economy is our economy, as we’re all global in what gets bought and what gets sold…commodities moving by ships all over the world.

As if the Gaza scenario wasn’t big enough for everyone, the shipping lanes problem in the Gulf most definitely needed to be handled with kid gloves from the very beginning.

The US government is at odds over monies going to Israel and Ukraine. Some want that money to go towards protecting the US southern border. Money is tight as it is back in the UK too.

So…instead of throwing extremely expensive missiles and guided bombs from extremely expensive ships and aircraft, wouldn’t it be better for REAL diplomats to be rolling their sleeves up (under their smart suit jackets), and asking China to play a part in communicating with Iran and the Houthis, as opposed to thinking that the only option is the military one?

The tone between the US and China desperately needs to calm down…this choice would be a good way of doing that. At the end of the day…for each and every country…the economy counts first and foremost. And especially for Western democracies like the US and the UK who have elections coming up this year…the electorate look at the economy as they walk over to post their ballot. Therefore whether China or the West, all of our economies are being battered by the Houthis right now.

To end this post, back to diplomacy. The world would be a better place if two things were to happen. One: The United Nations ends abstentions. Two: diplomats and/or “envoys” during their rounds of meeting leaders, actually stop off to speak with their enemies…yes it’s a tough job, but someone has to do it. For example…the sheer fact that Secretary Blinken during his rounds did not fly to Tehran is just crazy, given that the two major players in the Greater Middle East are Iran and Saudi Arabia. If China can communicate with both, then so should the USA. Global strength through great leadership and understanding is way more than waving and using a big stick…communication is way powerful in my humble opinion.