Trump’s war on Iran has become a larger calamity than expected, failing to convert U.S. military superiority into geopolitical victory while weakening America’s global position. The economic impact of Iran shutting down the Strait of Hormuz is significant, but the longer-term damage to U.S. standing is likely to last. Prior to the war, Trump’s disparagement of traditional allies and alliances left European and Asian leaders questioning U.S. commitment. After the war began, allies increasingly fear the U.S. may be unable to help even if it wanted to. The U.S. also depleted large portions of high-tech weapon stockpiles, including expensive air-defense missiles, by shooting down cheap Iranian drones. Plans for Taiwan arms sales were delayed because some weapons are needed to strengthen U.S. capabilities around Iran.
"Friends and foes couldn't help but notice that the vaunted U.S. military depleted half or more of its stockpile of certain high-tech weapons systems-including very expensive air-defense missiles-in the course of shooting down extremely cheap Iranian drones. (China's strategy, in the event of a war, is to launch swarms of cheap anti-ship missiles against U.S. warships attempting to defend Taiwan. Russia's military has reoriented to drone-dominant tactics being used by both sides in its long war on Ukraine.)"
Read at Slate Magazine
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