Great article, Mr. Doug.

I just want to highlight the words of a great strategist who is often mentioned and studied but whose advice is frequently ignored: Sun Tzu.

In his book The Art of War, he addresses recklessness, imprudence, and a lack of reflection on armed conflict as one of the greatest dangers to a state. For him, war is a matter of the utmost gravity—something that many world leaders take lightly. War should be the last resort. To win without fighting is the highest achievement; therefore, dialogue, politics, and negotiation—something our leaders are either unprepared for or, due to hidden interests, have refused to pursue.

We see that the implications of war and the collateral damage have not been thoroughly assessed, and, as a sign of an egregious lack of intelligence, no one foresaw what might happen in the Strait of Hormuz.

Looking at the results—global stock markets falling, oil prices rising, mortgage rates rising, etc., etc.—I can only draw one conclusion: a complete ignorance of the consequences, a lack of preparation, and an underestimation of the costs. And, as always, it is the ordinary citizen who will pay the price.

Let’s wait and see how this ends.