The War in the Middle East Does Concern Us: What Does It Have to Do with Our Electricity Bill, the Price of Bread, or Our Pensions?
When an ordinary person hears news about the war in the Middle East, they think - that's far away, it doesn't concern us. Bombs are falling in Iran, Americans and Israelis are retaliating, Russians are rubbing their hands. What does it have to do with our electricity bill, the price of bread, or our pensions. It does. And much more than anyone wants to admit.
TL;DR
- Iranian missile attacks have crippled US THAAD radar systems in Jordan and UAE, reducing warning times for ballistic missile attacks from 15 minutes to 60-120 seconds.
- US naval assets like the USS Abraham Lincoln are facing ammunition shortages, and modern carriers are under constant threat, while reinforcements face long transit times.
- A four-day ban on commercial satellite imagery by the US suggests an effort to conceal the true extent of damage from the public.
- Major investment funds like BlackRock have activated Redemption Gates, halting withdrawals due to a $800 billion stock market drop, paralyzing the economy.
- The petrochemical industry, reliant on oil, is crucial for fertilizer production (leading to food shortages) and materials like copper needed for electricity infrastructure.
- Disruptions in Qatar's LNG supply, a key route for Taiwan's semiconductor factories, could halt global technology production.
- The US dollar's role as a safe haven is diminishing, leading to questioning of alliances and trust.
- The global infrastructure is facing a systemic reset, with potential impacts on electricity, food prices, availability of electronics, and pension values.