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Briefing on Persian Gulf and Red Sea Nations
- Details
- By Mike Scruggs
- Category: Mike Scruggs' Column
Essential Economic, Energy, Religious/Social, and Military Notes
Part 1—Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar
The Persian Gulf nations are by region:
The Eastern shore: Iran, which occupies the entire eastern coast of 713 miles. The narrow 24-mile Hormuz Strait lies near the southern end of Iran and connects into the Gulf of Oman, leading into the Indian Ocean.
Western shore: Six Sunni Arab nations: Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, and an exclave of Oman, also a Sunni Arab nation. Bahrain is an island.
The Red Sea nations are by region:
Northern shore: Israel and a narrow strip of Jordan around the Port of Aqaba.
Eastern shore: Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
Western shore: Egypt, including the Suez Canal, Sudan, Eritrea, and Dijbouti.
The Caspian Sea—Iranian Backdoor to Russia
- Details
- By Mike Scruggs
- Category: Mike Scruggs' Column
Plus Comments on Military and Economic Aspects of Iran War
The Caspian Sea is the largest inland waterbody in the world. It is about the size Japan, almost as large as Norway, and larger than Germany. It stretches 750 miles from north to south, almost the distance between Charleston and Boston, and its average width is about 200 miles. It is about the size of Montana, our fourth-largest state, and larger than Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina combined. It is nearly five times as large as Lake Superior. Its main freshwater inflow (80%) is from the Russian Volga River, the longest river in Europe. The Volga also has transportational connections to the Russian Don River, the Black Sea, the Baltic Sea, the North Sea, and the White Sea in Northern Russia. The Ural River accounts for most of the other 20% freshwater inflow. The Caspian Sea’s surface is 89 feet below sea-level, and its salinity is about 1.3%, about one-third that of the seawater. Its depth varies, but there are northern and southern basins, with the deeper southern basin bottom at 3,356 feet below sea-level. This is the third deepest inland sea depth in the world. The shallowest area is where the Volga flows into the Caspian.
Finding Truth in a Blizzard of Propaganda
- Details
- By Mike Scruggs
- Category: Mike Scruggs' Column
American Costs and Risks in the Iran War
Unfiltered truth and analysis
In one of retired U.S. Army LCol. Daniel Davis’s YouTube podcasts on April 17, he summarized American costs since the second American and Israeli attack against Iran on February 28. The first attack, called the 12-day war, occurred between June 13-24, 2025, ending with a brokered ceasefire. Davis has established one of the most honest and thorough coverages of both the Ukraine and Iran War. He is a decorated combat veteran of the Iraq War and the Afghanistan War. He became an outspoken critic and “whistleblower” on the conduct of the Afghanistan War. Although he was nominated to be the Deputy Director of National Intelligence under Director Tusi Gabbard early in 2025, his nomination was essentially blocked by pressure from powerful Congressional and Trump donors associated with the American-Israeli Political Action Committee (AIPAC).
The Increasing Importance of Drone Warfare
- Details
- By Mike Scruggs
- Category: Mike Scruggs' Column
Lessons from Ukraine and the Middle East
Just as this article was about to be published on Sunday April 12, President Trump declared a U. S. Naval Blockade of the Iranian controlled Strait of Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. This immediately followed the failure of peace and cease-fire talks in Islamabad, Pakistan, to which Vice President J.D. Vance was to be the chief U.S. negotiator. Although I have confidence in Vance and was hopeful, the failure is exactly what I expected. The two sides are far apart and not inclined to reasonable compromise, so we are essentially left with escalating war. Moreover, Trump’s additional threat to have the U.S. Navy halt ships that have paid a toll to Iran was grievance enough for Iran to escalate its drone and missile warfare. In addition, Trumps’s threat to halt or board foreign ships in the Strait is waving a red flag in the face of China, which probably regards such an American move as piracy. There are several reports of increased Iranian drone attacks on Israel, but the fog and tension of war and inclinations to propaganda and censorship are blocking more news than usual. The escalation has already driven the price of West Texas Crude (WTC) up 8% to $104 per barrel. In stocks, the current Dow futures are down $383. Gasoline prices are moving back up.
Cutting Through the Propaganda Narratives
- Details
- By Mike Scruggs
- Category: Mike Scruggs' Column
Update on Iran War 4-6-2026
An NBC poll ending March 3, 2026, found that 52% of American voters disagreed with President Trump taking military action against Iran with 41% supporting military action and 7% unsure. However 77% of Republicans and 90% self-described MAGA voters supported military action against Iran.
A CBS/UGov poll ending March 20 found that 60% disapproved of military action against Iran and 40% approved it. However, 84% of Republicans supported it. A previous poll showed that a strong majority of Independent voters disapproved of military action against Iran.
Mike Scruggs is the author of two books: The Un-Civil War: Shattering the Historical Myths; and Lessons from the Vietnam War: Truths the Media Never Told You, and over 600 articles on military history, national security, intelligent design, genealogical genetics, immigration, current political affairs, Islam, and the Middle East.
He holds a BS degree from the University of Georgia and an MBA from Stanford University. A former USAF intelligence officer and Air Commando, he is a decorated combat veteran of the Vietnam War, and holds the Distinguished Flying Cross, Purple Heart, and Air Medal. He is a retired First Vice President for a major national financial services firm and former Chairman of the Board of a classical Christian school.
Click the website below to order books. http://www.universalmediainc.org/books.htm.
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