US military strategy tested as Iran-Israel’s shadow warfare becomes more direct
==========
US military forces are not positioned for a major, sustained conflict in the Middle East and may need to revisit assumptions about military needs in the region if the crisis between Iran and Israel deepens. The US has rushed thousands of troops to the region in response to the escalating conflict, but many of these troops are only temporarily deployed on warships and aircraft. The success of the US military in downing Iran's drones and missiles last Saturday was aided by detailed US intelligence. However, there are concerns about the US military's ability to be responsive over a sustained period of time. The US has a dangerous shortfall in intelligence assets, targeting expertise, and linguists, which hampers its ability to detect and disrupt plots by violent extremist organizations. Sending more troops to the Middle East and bolstering intelligence assets long-term could prove difficult due to troop deployments in Europe and the focus on the challenge from China in Asia. The US should strengthen its position in the Middle East without abandoning its focus on China.
#UsMilitary #Iran #Israel #MiddleEast #Conflict