Does proximity to livestock make such a difference?

Nah, they mean “I know it sounds unlikely, but I’m still too credulous to actually disbelieve it”. Or they would if they had such an expansive vocabulary. It probably sounds like “Woo Yah” in their heads.

The US were just as shitty before. They dropped the mask once they could stick a theme tune on war.

I Am Otter

How do you know they’re irrelevant? Have you… done a study?

The King is the only person who voluntarily pays tax. Currently 85% of income on the Crown estate.

And what about when terrorists like the Houthis capture one? Just trust they can’t extract the materials to build dirty bombs?

You didn’t give that impression, clearly.

It was nothing like it.

I really don’t understand why people bother with signing a petition, when it’s just as simple to make a complaint themselves and actually achieve something.

Iran has the second-largest reserves in the world. However production is limited by ageing infrastructure and sanctions. It is also the second-largest oil consumer, as the cheap cost has meant there has been no incentive for efficient use.

Ship siezures are not, under international law.

Venezuela wants to sell oil, but is under sanctions. Iran wants to buy oil, but is under sanctions.

The US didn’t “steal” it. It executed a european warrant for siezure at the request of the country that had rightful jurisdiction. Iran was just embarrassed that it was only possible due to the crew’s incompetence.

It has been under US sanctions since 2022 for supplying the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. It was spoofing its position. It was flying a false flag.

As to the legal justification, there are technicalities that could be argued. But that’s incidental to the intention here probably.

Unless it’s by the state it was registered in, it is not legal to do so, except in cases of piracy, slave transport, or when the ship is stateless.

The law holds that states cannot commit piracy. That is solely a crime for private entities.

Ships can only fall under the jurisdiction of the country of registration, the country in whose coastal waters the ship is in, or - in exceptional circumstances of piracy, slavery or statelessness of the ship - anyone.

Usually it wouldn’t be, but there are exceptions for piracy and slaving. There is also an exception for vessels without nationality. Skipper had been fraudulently flying the flag of Guyana, who confirmed no such ship exists on their register. The US could argue it was therefore stateless.

Yes it is. See: Vietnam

Denazification didn’t work. The occupation authorities realised that if they hanged all the Nazis there wouldn’t be enough people left to be a viable country. So the virus gestated.