Sec. Bessant HUMILIATED By Merchant Marine Over Strait of Hormuz

KunsanVeteran · 2026-08-14T09:04:46-04:00

Politics - Sec. Bessant HUMILIATED By Merchant Marine Over Strait of Hormuz Maritime historian Sal... (3 replies).

[media=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9_UQ3ED5r4]

Maritime historian Sal Mercogliano takes apart Scott Bessent’s claim that pipelines will make the Strait of Hormuz irrelevant and warns that global oil stockpiles are rapidly declining.

For more of the discussion, please join us on Patreon at - / patreon-full-sal-166445945

00:00 Scott Bessent claims Strait of Hormuz will be irrelevant
01:37 Sal on why pipelines can’t replace the strait
03:14 Russia is profiting from their Arctic route
04:43 Oil stockpiles are draining with no backstop
06:06 How Ever Given launched Sal’s channel

Salvatore Mercogliano is a professor of history and chair of the Department of History, Criminal Justice and Politics at Campbell University in North Carolina. He holds a BS in marine transportation from SUNY Maritime College, along with a merchant marine deck officer license where he worked both afloat and ashore. After leaving government service, he earned an MA in maritime history and nautical archaeology from East Carolina University and a PhD in military and naval history from the University of Alabama. He is also the author of the monograph Fourth Arm of Defense: Sealift and Maritime Logistics in the Vietnam War. In 2021, Professor Mercogliano launched the YouTube channel What’s Going on With Shipping? (@wgowshipping⁩) following the Ever Given incident in the Suez Canal.

My comments:

Somebody help me out here:

Is Bessant really this stupid, or is he just a really poor liar trying to cover up the idiocy and incompetence of his boss (Demented Donnie)?

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PicturesOfABetterTomorrow · 41-45, M Best Comment

Great segment and this guy is very informative. Watch alot about Merchant Shipping from him.

One thing not mentioned is even if Bessent's fantasy comes true piplelines are more vulnerable, not less. they are a static target that can be destroyed with IEDs nevermind a ballistic missile.

And that disrupts the entire supply of the pipeline not just what is one one or two ships.

Also even if everything goes well. A friend of mine worked for TCPL (Trans-Canada Pipeline) and even they freely admit it is not a matter if if a pipeline leaks but when and how bad.

And since the ones in the Middle East are buried I would think trying to clean up a spill must be even more of a mess.

This whole statement from Bessent seems designed to pacify people who don't know anything about shipping or pipelines.

KunsanVeteran · M

@PicturesOfABetterTomorrow Yes—his blatant lies fall apart with even casual fact checking. And he keeps pressing on with his lies despite the obvious egg on his face and forked tongue in his mouth…

KunsanVeteran · M

Shipping Expert Sal Mercogliano: Trump "Doesn't Really Know" What He's Doing.

[media=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1HnquxHmWM]

Host of "What's Going On With Shipping?" Salvatore Mercogliano discusses the situation in the Strait of Hormuz, the history of the Jones Act, Trump’s extension of its waiver, and challenges Trump advisor Kevin Hassett on repealing it as a "magic button."

For the full discussion with Sal, join us on Patreon: / patreon-full-sal-166445945
Or become a YouTube member: • Full Broadcast: Sal Mercogliano, Dr. Kavit...

00:00 Intro
00:17 Katie introduces Sal Mercogliano
01:22 “The ship that launched a thousand memes”
01:51 Kevin Hassett confronted on "bullish" Hormuz claim by Jake Tapper
04:07 Trump admin expected short conflict w/ Iran
04:49 Why gas prices went up
05:49 Sal explains history of Jones Act, cabotage
08:24 Sal: waiving Jones Act not a magic fix
09:23 U.S. was already moving less of its own fuel
10:51 Failure of energy policy or national security need?
11:36 “Shell game in moving oil around”
12:11 How waiver affects workers
13:22 Cato Institute

Salvatore Mercogliano is a professor of history & chair of the Dep't of History, Criminal Justice & Politics at Campbell University in North Carolina. He holds a BS in marine transportation from SUNY Maritime College, along with a merchant marine deck officer license where he worked both afloat & ashore. After leaving gov't service, he earned an MA in maritime history & nautical archaeology from East Carolina University & a PhD in military & naval history from University of Alabama. Author of the monograph Fourth Arm of Defense: Sealift & Maritime Logistics in the Vietnam War. In 2021, Prof. Mercogliano launched the YouTube channel What’s Going on With Shipping? (@wgowshipping⁩) following the Ever Given incident in the Suez Canal.

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