The U.S.-Israeli war on Iran is now centered on the battle for the Strait of Hormuz. The strait provides the critical Indian Ocean chokepoint for oil and natural gas-exporting nations rimming the Persian Gulf. But Iran's use of drones, mines, missiles, and gunboats to harass transiting ships has brought energy exports to a near-total halt. This has led to rising energy prices and volatility. The Trump administration is now pressuring allies to provide naval forces to escort tankers through the strait and thus stabilize the global energy market.

With friends like these: One real virtue of the Iran war is how it exposes once-hidden disloyalties. That goes for the various cranks on the right we considered the other day, most prominently podcaster Tucker Carlson, formally "evicted" from MAGA by President Donald Trump and sadly now claiming the CIA is out to frame him. Other big-ish righty names — Steve Bannon, Megyn Kelly, Marjorie Taylor Greene — are also denouncing Operation Epic Fury, marginally undermining a mission that has strong support among GOP voters and even more so among MAGA ones.

Over the weekend, President Donald Trump requested that Britain, France, Japan, South Korea and China send warships to the Middle East to help him reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has come to a standstill because of Iranian attacks on ships in and near the waterway. He also issued a vague threat to NATO allies who didn't join in the effort, saying that it would be "very bad for the future of NATO" if they refused to help secure the strait. But those countries and more American allies aren't rushing to Trump's rescue. They're either openly rebuffing his demands or issuing vague, noncommittal statements. For the moment, there is no prospect of a U.S.-led coalition to help resolve Iran's domination of a waterway through which 20% of the world's oil reaches global markets. That Trump failed to anticipate this scenario illustrates yet another way in which his war in Iran is as foolish as it is immoral.

"It won't be long now." That was President Donald J. Trump, speaking on the timeline for commercial traffic to flow again through the Strait of Hormuz at the White House on Tuesday. U.S. forces are "knocking the hell out of the coast," Trump said. "As soon as that war is over, which it will be soon, prices are going to drop like a rock," he added. "You watch." Control of the Strait of Hormuz is a top geopolitical prize, and one of the core objectives of Operation Epic Fury. On a good day, 130 ships transit the Strait every 24 hours, moving cargo and about 20 million barrels of oil products. Currently, about 6 million barrels per day of oil from Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates have been rerouted to Red Sea pipelines.

Make or break. The post “Virtually unbearable”: Robert Smith’s desperation to kill The Cure with brilliance first appeared on Far Out Magazine.

A deep dive into the iconic series on its 50th anniversary.

Jack Nicholson has traveled to many places throughout his illustrious career. He encountered a bakery in New York with bread that he now has sent to LA.

The documentary “Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition” will be in theaters May 7th. In advance of the film’s release the band has shared a trailer. The documentary features on‑camera reflections from the band plus actor Javier Bardem and Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, recounting the band’s influence on music, culture and fans worldwide. Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition Trailer Iron Maiden formed in East London and over 50 years they have released 17 studio albums, sold over 100 million records and performed nearly 2,500 concerts across 64 countries. Ticket Information ### The post “Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition” Coming In May appeared first on RockinTown.