[Montaignes Cat]

Let me add my thanks to you for posting this piece, and for the links to Admiral Mahan.

Wretchard at The Belmont Club was discussing Malacca in detail back in June. He made the points that some huge percentage of the world's oil passes through just 6 narrow choke-points, all easily attacked. In addition to Malacca, through which passes 11 million barrels per day, he also mentions: Bab el-Mandab between Eritrea and Yemen, Bosporus/Turkish Straits, Straits of Hormuz between Oman and Iran, Russian Oil and Gas Pipelines, and the Suez. Other points he makes: that the price of oil includes something like $8 per barrel security costs, that much of the security burden is being borne by American so-called "consultants" or mercs, and that without the U.S. Navy, oil could not be secured.

[mondoman]

Much of US Modern History as a world power stems from Mahan, and his influence on Naval Strategy and Teddy Roosevelt (the first Modern President). I remember learning about Admiral Mahan in High School. Mahan was founding Dean of the Naval War College. Mahan's position was that the US, and in conjunction with Britain, should be able to defend the critical narrows and sea lanes around the world:

Malacca Straits,
Straits of Hormuz
Horn of Africa
Isthmus of Panama
Cape Horn
Cape of Good Hope
Suez