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The Crippling Effects of Unnecessary War
Ron Paul Institute ^ | September 14, 2026 | Ron Paul

Posted on 09/15/2026 7:42:48 AM PDT by Angelino97

In California, gas stations are facing a unique challenge. The station signs are only configured to go up to $9.99 per gallon and at several stations the price of diesel has reached that maximum. Diesel prices are higher than they have ever been in history.

Worse, according to some news reports the advertising of the maximum price of $9.99 per gallon is meant to signal to truck drivers that they have run out of diesel altogether. Expensive diesel is a hit to the economy, but running out of the fuel at any price is a whole different kind of crisis.

Our highways are filled with semi-trucks burning diesel to bring the products we depend on to the markets. Our freight trains use diesel to transport what is not transported by truck. When the price of diesel increases, the cost of everything moved by that diesel also increases. This is one reason we are seeing much more inflation than the government wants to admit.

The diesel crisis is getting so serious that even President Trump has been forced to admit it. Of course, instead of taking at least part of the blame over his war of choice against Iran and his continuation of the proxy war against Russia through Ukraine, he is blaming Ukraine’s military strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.

President Trump is now asking Ukraine to stop attacking Russian energy resources because diesel is a global commodity and the scarcity produced by the attacks is hitting us here at home. But the strikes deep inside Russia are guided by US intelligence, which provides the targeting data for Ukraine.

The Russia/Ukraine war is only part of the problem. Despite President Trump’s bluster about controlling the Strait of Hormuz, the fact is Iran is in control and very little oil – or anything else – makes it out without Iranian approval.

Yemen’s Iran-allied Houthis joining the fight only makes matters worse. Over the weekend they attacked Saudi Arabia’s bypass pipeline, taking much more oil off the market.

The real problem here is not oil or diesel. The real problem is that wars of choice spin out of control and destroy the economies of those who launch them. Empires throughout history have been undone by endless overseas wars. No amount of bragging about the size and strength of our military can change this reality.

Now we are seeing the chickens coming home to roost.

President Trump has justified tanking the US economy by claiming the attack on Iran was essential because they were about to get a nuclear weapon. Our intelligence community disagreed, but he refused to listen and took his cue from Netanyahu instead.

It turns out Iran actually does have a “nuclear weapon.” That weapon is the ability to control the world’s oil flows at a margin high enough to cripple the economies of any country seeking to conquer it. According to press reports, former Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard tried to warn President Trump that Iran would close the Strait of Hormuz if attacked but he didn’t want to hear it.

The Founders were determined to prevent the executive branch from being able to start wars for this very reason. The “people’s branch” of government – Congress – is where they placed the power to launch wars. We are now seeing the consequences of ignoring their very wise advice.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
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1 posted on 09/15/2026 7:42:48 AM PDT by Angelino97
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To: Angelino97

Sheesh.


2 posted on 09/15/2026 7:47:59 AM PDT by PGalt (Past Peak Civilization?)
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To: Angelino97

If a foreign adversary wanted to undermine the U.S. economy and sabotage the Trump administration, they couldn’t have done a better job of it than what Trump has done himself since February.


3 posted on 09/15/2026 7:53:28 AM PDT by Alberta's Child (If I leave here, it’s because I’m tired of arguing with geriatric parrots wearing MAGA hats.)
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To: Alberta's Child

Not only that but the number of TRUE fiscal conservatives is dwindling in the administration.


4 posted on 09/15/2026 7:55:19 AM PDT by Sir_Humphrey (I'll support Trump when I think he's right. I'll oppose him when I think he's wrong. As it should be)
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To: Angelino97

Hard to believe that after supplying Ukraine and observing the Ukraine drone war for four years, the US military did not develop and deploy an effective anti drone technology. Chinese designed drones delivered to and deployed by the mullahs have put a strangle hold on the world’s economy. Price are rising in the US and the Democrats are shamelessly exploiting the circumstances to regain power. Sadly when Trump entered this war with Israel, who’s prime objective was to remove the mullah regime, he failed to learn the lesson of Vietnam. Never ever commit brave US troops to war if you do not indend to win a total vistory. Now the consequences will be a regime change. The mullahs, bloodied and defiant will remain in power and the Democrats will supercede Trump and the Republicans. Sic transit gloria.


5 posted on 09/15/2026 8:00:05 AM PDT by allendale
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To: PGalt

Crazy Ronny is upset that his wet dream of Iran nuking the Jooooos was knocked off course.


6 posted on 09/15/2026 8:04:36 AM PDT by TheThirdRuffian (Orange is the new brown)
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To: Angelino97

Good luck finding gas under $6.00/gallon now. I paid $5.19 yesterday with a $1.00/gallon off through Ralphs rewards program. Regular price at that station was $6.19.

Never mind that California sits on one of the largest oil fields in the world - Democrat politicians fight tooth and nail to make sure none of it is pumped out - and are busy closing down California’s remaining refineries.

“The Los Angeles Basin alone holds an estimated 1.4 to 5.6 billion barrels of recoverable oil remaining in its ten largest fields.”


7 posted on 09/15/2026 8:07:12 AM PDT by Bon of Babble (You Say You Want a Revolution?)
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To: Alberta's Child

8 posted on 09/15/2026 8:08:10 AM PDT by Gunslingr3
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To: Angelino97

Ah, yes, the hamas supporters are out spewing lies again, like this.

Taking out Iran’s nuke was necessary, arsehole. They could have blackmailed the parts of Europe (not EU, Europe) that wasn’t already an enemy of the WEst. Plus, what makes even a moron like you think that a spare nuke would not find its way to DC via: hama, houties, hezzies, ISIS, whatever?

Aww, gonna have to pay a bit more for diesel until your paymasters take the knee, huh?

The fuel problem here in CaCaLand area is that because of Newscum we import our fuel from the CCP — which comes from Iran.


9 posted on 09/15/2026 8:09:41 AM PDT by bobbo666
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To: Angelino97

I guess the Feds and States can reduce their taxes on a gallon of fuel. But that ain’t gonna happen.


10 posted on 09/15/2026 8:12:21 AM PDT by Vermont Lt
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To: Gunslingr3

11 posted on 09/15/2026 8:12:39 AM PDT by Gunslingr3
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To: allendale

We might have a good drone defense, but Trump rushed into this war

For Iraq 2.0 Bush started his build up in Oct. 2002 and didn’t attack until March 2003. Even after Sept 11th it was more than a month later before we even began the 1st bombings.

Iran is bigger than both combined, yet Trump attacked with no build up what so ever. He must of thought it would over in a day or two.

But hey, as long as the Israel first Boomer Cons are happy.


12 posted on 09/15/2026 8:12:46 AM PDT by qam1 (There's been a huge party. All plates and the bottles are empty, all that's left is the bill to pay)
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To: Angelino97
Before the Iran War, while Ukraine was attacking Russian refineries, the average price of regular diesel was $3.76 It has now surged past $6.00

So no, the current high price of gasoline and diesel is NOT because of Ukraine, its because the Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed.

Before the conflict in late February, the national average price for a gallon of diesel in the U.S. was about $3.76, according to AAA

13 posted on 09/15/2026 8:17:13 AM PDT by tlozo (“Russia war-Either money today or blood tomorrow," Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk)
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To: Gunslingr3

14 posted on 09/15/2026 8:17:48 AM PDT by Gunslingr3
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To: PGalt

Right in the title they include a false premise: “unnecessary”.

And their entire argument and criticism is built on that false premise right off the bat.

You either believe people when they say they wish to murder you, or you don’t.

I pass harsh judgement on people I view as dimwitted who say “Oh, the Iranians don’t really mean they will “wipe us off the face of the Earth” or they wish us dead. It is all just rhetoric.”

Yes. People say that.

I don’t. And I think anyone who categorizes it that way, on this forum or not, and makes that a foundational premise of their argument, is both dimwitted and dangerous.

And that includes the addled Libertarian dumbass named Ron Paul.

When people who say they want you to die, and have in fact, murdered you by the tens of hundreds or thousands over the years, want to acquire nuclear weaponry, you have every right to kick them literally and figuratively in their national, governmental, military, and economic balls to deny them the right to do that.


15 posted on 09/15/2026 8:17:49 AM PDT by rlmorel (Factio Communistica Sinensis Delenda Est)
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To: Angelino97

Anyone else remember when gas prices first topped $1 and the pump just went up to 99¢. I remember the local Shell station started pricing in liters. That was back when the liberals were pushing the country to go metric, anyway.

Maybe they should start pricing diesel by the quart.

Around here, Diesel is almost $2 a gallon more than gasoline.


16 posted on 09/15/2026 8:18:21 AM PDT by PAR35
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To: Angelino97

Contrast this “war” against Iran to other US conflicts. The USA doesn’t want the territory. We don’t want them even subservient. They can still keep hating us.

We just want them to stop trying to build nuclear weapons, stop shooting missiles at Israel and the Gulf states, and stop blocking vessels in and out of the Persin gulf.

Freedom of the seas is always something the USA has fought for. That is a very Libertarian position, Rand.


17 posted on 09/15/2026 8:20:48 AM PDT by Alas Babylon! (The greatest power the media has is the power to ignore.)
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To: rlmorel

YES


18 posted on 09/15/2026 8:22:30 AM PDT by PGalt (Past Peak Civilization?)
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To: Angelino97

Ron Paul doesn’t seem to realize CA prices are $3-4 higher than the rest of the country. The real reason is CA shut down its refineries and drilling oil in Bakersfield and offshore. The war has minimal impact on CA. He should point out the Communists’ war on oil.


19 posted on 09/15/2026 8:25:53 AM PDT by bray (Thank God for Israel)
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To: Bon of Babble

Around here, regular seems to be running between $3.58 and $3.85 at gas stations; slightly lower at Costco and Sams. Diesel is running $5.79 - $5.99. (All prices per Gas Buddy.


20 posted on 09/15/2026 8:26:53 AM PDT by PAR35
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