Comments on: Open thread 7/1/2026 https://thenewneo.com/2026/07/01/open-thread-7-1-2026/ A blog about political change, among other things Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:02:09 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1 By: SCOTT OLSON https://thenewneo.com/2026/07/01/open-thread-7-1-2026/#comment-2856547 Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:02:09 +0000 https://thenewneo.com/?p=150266#comment-2856547 The years do, indeed, fly by. I am a night shifter, so I sleep by day. One morning in March, I had just gone to bed, when Tom, my cat hopped up and curled next to me. I suddenly realized that I was born 21 August 1961, while Tom was born 4 July 2025!

]]> By: charles https://thenewneo.com/2026/07/01/open-thread-7-1-2026/#comment-2856514 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 19:59:24 +0000 https://thenewneo.com/?p=150266#comment-2856514 It’s not just July, this Fourth will be the 250 anniversary of the USA’s declaration of Independence.

It seems like it was just a couple of years ago we had the bicentennial; that was the year I graduated from high school and here I am now retired!

Yes, time (life) really does fly by.

]]> By: crasey https://thenewneo.com/2026/07/01/open-thread-7-1-2026/#comment-2856485 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 16:11:35 +0000 https://thenewneo.com/?p=150266#comment-2856485 The real beneficiary of Saudi duplicity is China. Last year they signed a mutual defense pact with China and Pakistan:

https://mei.edu/publication/silent-leverage-quiet-gains-china-and-saudi-pakistan-defense-pact/

Tuesday they met in Beijing to:

“[Exchange] views on issues of mutual interest, foremost among them developments in the region, as well as efforts to de-escalate tensions and enhance security and stability. They emphasized the importance of ensuring maritime navigation security and preserving freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and international waterways, supporting energy security and global economic stability.”

https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/662628/saudi-arabia/saudi-chinese-foreign-ministers-discuss-strengthening-partnership-in-vital-sectors

]]> By: sdferr https://thenewneo.com/2026/07/01/open-thread-7-1-2026/#comment-2856475 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:45:33 +0000 https://thenewneo.com/?p=150266#comment-2856475 Yes indeed Mike, this was the fact element which unlocked the otherwise unintelligible change over the course of 24 hours from the beginning of Project Freedom to its reversal.

And further, the “Why?”! What was the cause of it? I think the Saudi rulers concluded their water desalination vulnerability demanded they not provoke the enemy to attack. The US could not go forward without that air basing and further, the airspace access.

]]> By: SENNACHERIB https://thenewneo.com/2026/07/01/open-thread-7-1-2026/#comment-2856474 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:38:11 +0000 https://thenewneo.com/?p=150266#comment-2856474 Time wounds all heels! I do believe the left will self-destruct.

]]> By: Mike Plaiss https://thenewneo.com/2026/07/01/open-thread-7-1-2026/#comment-2856473 Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:36:56 +0000 https://thenewneo.com/?p=150266#comment-2856473 Interesting. From the WSJ, not the editorial board.

https://www.wsj.com/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-us-relationship-iran-war-ca0f31a0?st=3ZQtpQ

DUBAI—More than 100 U.S. military aircraft were taking off from bases and warships across the Middle East as part of an effort to crack open the Strait of Hormuz this past spring when they hit a glitch: Saudi Arabia, whose bases and airspace were critical to the mission, was saying no.

The pushback forced the U.S. to abort Project Freedom, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter, ending the military operation to guarantee safe passage for ships that President Trump had launched hours earlier.

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