B Best

Phillips Payson O’Brien, professor of strategic studies at the University of St Andrews, in The Atlantic (Gift Article): Why Is the U.S. Running So Low on Weapons? “The munitions shortfall doesn’t just affect the current war. It also sends a worrisome message to allies around the world: The United States has been caught off guard by the latest evolution of warfare and lacks the armaments-production capacity to adapt quickly. Suddenly, relying on American military technology looks far less reliable as a security strategy than it did before President Trump went to war with Iran. And in the long run, governments that counted on the United States to equip their military are going to need a Plan B.”

+ Our allies need a Plan B. Our enemy already found one. “Iran’s leadership believes it has found the world’s Achilles’ heel. With the help of regional militia allies, Tehran spent the past week underscoring its ability to threaten several of the world’s most critical energy facilities and waterways.” For Iran, Trump’s Reversal on Escalation Shows Who Has the Upper Hand.

+ Iran says it is in talks with Oman but not the US after Trump says negotiations to resume.