WRITE DIRECTION: Is this how democracy works?

THE front-page story for many of the world’s news sources recently reported that Donald Trump had threatened to ‘bomb the shit’ out of US ally Oman if it got in the way of US efforts to broker a deal on the Straits of Hormuz.

I wonder: how is that being received by the rest of the Gulf states?

With the Arab world having been in conflict with western nations for more years than any of us can research into

antiquity, why would you seek to bully, humiliate and embarrass one of the few recent friends you have left in that part of the world?

Especially when they were perceived as not being on the side of Iran in the dispute about having the Gulf of Hormuz freely open to all ships trying to carry on business as normal, importantly by transporting gulf produced oil to the refineries of the world for fuel production.

Yes, the world’s number-one sized big dog must be really frustrated that his demands and opinions on trying to return the Gulf to a free and open trade route have been rejected by the pint-sized family-run country is now having serious ramifications for the rest of the world whose economies are receding due to the ongoing price hikes of fuel, is helping to only make their positions worse.

Just because your supposed Arab friend, the state of Oman is trying to get on with its neighbour Iran by trying to find some common ground, which could suggest a way of solving the issue, why would you display these intemperate outbursts which can only inflame such a situation?

Where does basic common sense fit into trying to solve such a difficult international conflict?

There is an age-old saying that “you can’t legislate against stupidity”.

I believe it fits this situation but can’t provide a worthwhile resolution with that type of response.

By John BLACKBOURN