The American Military’s Coming Marathon

Key Points:

• U.S. President Trump's initial promise of a quick and easy war with Iran proved inaccurate, as the conflict extended beyond a month with ongoing strikes and a fragile cease-fire, highlighting the protracted nature of modern warfare.
• The U.S. military demonstrated advanced capabilities in targeted operations, such as the raid capturing Venezuela’s Maduro and strikes on Iran’s nuclear program, but struggled with sustained conflict due to Iran’s large missile and drone arsenal and ability to endure attrition warfare.
• The war exposed critical U.S. challenges, including significant depletion of missile and drone stockpiles, insufficient investment in defending fixed military assets, and the need to adapt operational concepts beyond air superiority to counter mass drone and missile attacks.
• To prepare for prolonged conflicts, the U.S. must increase munitions production, invest in advanced technologies like directed energy weapons and satellite constellations, strengthen defenses of overseas bases, and enhance collaboration with allies who have underinvested in their militaries.
• Adversaries such as China, Russia, and North Korea are closely studying U.S. military performance, noting both strengths and vulnerabilities, which underscores the importance for the U.S. to maintain global presence and readiness across multiple domains and theaters simultaneously.