Bad news for US strength: pausing a bigger strike on Iran because America is running short on defensive missiles signals real weakness to China and Russia.

• Trump backed off a "massive" attack on Iran after advisors warned the US is running low on Patriot missiles, having burned through over 1,200 interceptors.
• To keep defending against Iran, the US pulled missile batteries and Marine units out of Asia.
• That leaves Taiwan more exposed to China and South Korea weaker against North Korea.
• Iran is winning a war of attrition with cheap drones, while the US can't hit its deepest nuclear sites and won't risk ground troops before elections.
• The bigger worry: a mid-sized power exposed how thin American defenses really are, inviting bigger rivals to test the US.

Outlook: Expect more talk of ramping up US weapons production, with China and Russia watching closely for openings.