Hektor

It will also affect other non oil transportation via the Red Sea and Suez Canal. How will the rest of the world respond this time, particularly with the Houthis losing the support structure they had the last time?

Technology is changing the world at a rapid rate. Demographics change and its adoption of technology is changing laws/regulations, probably rapidly. Does all these pose a risk to Berkshire companies that enjoys benefits derived from natural and/or regulatory moats? Here is a recent example: https://www.wsj.com/business/autos/rivian-made-car-dealers-back-down-in-washington-more-states-may-be-next-70499eec Rivian Made Car Dealers Back Down in Washington. More States May Be Next. Dealers have long held a tight grip on car sales, but cracks are starting to show Electric-vehicle startup Rivian Automotive just won a yearslong battle with car dealers in Washington state that threatens the model of how cars are sold. After fighting to sell its vehicles directly to buyers, Rivian threatened to take its case to voters with a ballot measure to permit direct sales. The dealers blinked. Will this erode some/all of Berkshire Automotive’s advantages?

+1

https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-war-middle-east-news-updates/card/thailand-says-iran-agrees-to-let-its-tankers-transit-strait-of-hormuz-JYAGIUa0ucCxBaHnNdFf Will this make any difference? Looks like tankers from a number of countries are moving through the strait.

+1

+1. Or, if the carrier is not sent to the Mediterranean.

+1

Will the US and Israel stand by and watch when the world is funding Iran (or Iran is collecting from the world) to point weapons at Israel?

I feel this is unlikely. Not without broad international consensus as well as Iran recognizing Israel and signing a peace treaty with it.

Kennedy Woodard-Jones checked in for her flight home from a work trip 24 hours in advance earlier this month. Her emailed reminder from American Airlines referenced her “flight to Chicago O’Hare,” for which she had chosen a seat. She went through the Transportation Security Administration checkpoint as usual. A bus sat outside, with workers loading bags underneath. She figured the bus would take them to the plane. But the American Airlines-branded motor coach rolled down the tarmac and off airport property. “It wasn’t until we were on the highway that I realized this is my ride to O’Hare,” said Woodard-Jones, 27. “There’s no plane. It took me a second for it to really lock in that this is not a plane ride.” Workers laughed when she asked how they would get to the plane, which she also found odd. She said that when she booked the round-trip flight, the bus of it all was not apparent to her. She even got an email confirmation asking whether they wanted to upgrade to first class. “We’re upgrading to first class on a bus?” she said. Travelers book the bus ride — which gets a flight number — just like they would a flight. American’s website notes that the route is “operated by The Landline Company as American Eagle” and “includes travel on luxury bus,” and it shows a bus icon during booking. But some travelers, especially those who reserve on third-party booking sites or corporate tools, have said the bus travel portion of their trip was not obvious. The Landline Company, founded in 2018, operates routes via bus for three airlines from small communities to larger hubs that might have once been served with the type of small planes that have fallen out of use. American said the vast majority of Landline service customers are using it for connecting flights. The buses make Philadelphia connections to and from five smaller airports in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware and, as of October, Chicago O’Hare connections to and from Rockford, Illinois, and South Bend. https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/2026/03/26/american-airlines-flight-bus-ride/

Thanks @longterminvestor

https://www.ft.com/content/d5d7291b-8a53-42cd-b10a-4e02fbcf9047?syn-25a6b1a6=1 Russia (and China too) might see an opportunity to do a Ukraine on the USA Looks like Congress is dragging its feet on funding Epic Fury. All these are additional reasons to off ramp, I feel.

Ahem! https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/iran-war-us-israel-news-updates-2026 Trump Says U.S. Will Postpone Further Strikes on Iranian Energy Infrastructure The president said that both countries had ‘very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East’

I find it incredible that a state with complete internet blackout and no free press has more credibility here than the democracy with free press that has beaten the pulp out of them.

I guess, IF Iran implements a Hormuz blockade, a disruption in the Red Sea must also be assumed.

+1. @wabuffo I too am interested in the answer to @hasilp89's question

Is this really true? Would it be a stretch to imagine the current situation developing into (or rhyming with) a 73 Oil embargo like situation (with necessary adjustments for developments since 73)?

In 5 years, probably.

I am in this boat, making slow progress

Thanks @John Hjorth for this link

https://www.barrons.com/articles/berkshire-ceo-tv-buffett-869500ec Berkshire CEO Abel Plans TV Appearance Thursday Greg Abel will make his first public appearance as Berkshire Hathaway CEO on Thursday. Abel is scheduled to appear on CNBC’s Squawk Box at 7 a.m. ET, CNBC confirmed.

I hope FFH sells off on the Middle East situation. After all, they are a global insurance operation

Thanks @Maverick47 for the posts. They add to the learning.