As the war over the Strait of Hormuz wages on, the U.S. is quietly gaining more influence over the Panama Canal and the straits of Malacca and Gibraltar. The Iran war and Hormuz blockade just happen to be the biggest gambit in the high-tempo game thus far. At play are all critical waterways and congestion bottlenecks through which the world’s energy products, agriculture, and supply chain parts flow. ... [10053 chars]