What Happened
Depleted Arsenal Undermines Trump's Negotiating Position
The US military’s depleted arsenal of premier offensive and defensive weapons is undermining President Trump’s leverage with Iran, according to recent news reports. The shortage of munition stockpiles, characterized as ‘poor planning’ by former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, has constrained Trump’s ability to authorize major combat operations against the Islamic Republic. The Pentagon’s dwindling stockpiles of key weapons, including Patriot missiles and THAAD missiles, have raised concerns about the US’s readiness to wage warfare. This development was first reported by The Hill.