In California, gas stations are encountering an unusual issue. Their price boards only display amounts up to $9.99 per gallon, and at multiple locations diesel fuel has reached that cap. Diesel costs have soared to unprecedented levels.
More troublingly, some reports suggest that posting the $9.99 per gallon maximum is a tactic to inform truck drivers that diesel is completely unavailable. While high diesel prices strain the economy, an outright shortage of this fuel represents a far more severe crisis.
Our roads are crowded with semi-trucks relying on diesel to deliver essential goods to stores. Diesel powers freight trains as well, moving items that trucks do not carry. When diesel expenses rise, the price of transported products inevitably escalates, contributing significantly to inflation levels that officials are hesitant to acknowledge.
The severity of the diesel shortage has even compelled President Trump to recognize its impact. Yet rather than accept responsibility, particularly for his decision to wage war on Iran and his role in the proxy conflict involving Russia via Ukraine, he blames Ukraine’s attacks on Russian energy plants for the problem.
President Trump is now urging Ukraine to halt strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, citing diesel’s status as a global resource and the resulting scarcity impacting the U.S. However, these attacks inside Russia rely on intelligence from the U.S., which provides targeting information to Ukraine.
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine represents just one aspect of the issue. Despite President Trump’s loud claims about controlling the Strait of Hormuz, Iran holds sway there, and almost no oil or other goods leave without Tehran’s consent.
The situation is exacerbated by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis joining the fray. Recently, they targeted Saudi Arabia’s bypass pipeline, further reducing the available oil supply.
The underlying problem isn’t merely oil or diesel availability. Wars chosen by political leaders often spiral beyond control, devastating the economies of the nations involved. Throughout history, empires have fallen because of relentless foreign conflicts. No boasting about military might can alter this truth.
Now, we are witnessing the consequences of these decisions.
President Trump justified damaging the American economy by arguing that the strike on Iran was necessary to prevent them from acquiring nuclear weapons. While intelligence agencies disagreed, he ignored their input and instead followed Netanyahu’s lead.
In reality, Iran’s true “nuclear weapon” is its ability to control global oil shipments to a degree that can incapacitate any nation attempting to dominate it. According to news sources, former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard warned President Trump that Iran might close the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation, but he disregarded the message.
The nation’s Founders intentionally designed the government to limit the executive branch’s ability to initiate wars for reasons like these. They assigned war-declaring authority to Congress, the “people’s branch” of government. The current turmoil demonstrates the dangers of ignoring their prudent foresight.
Original article: ronpaulinstitute.org
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