The news cycle has been dominated over the last few days by domestic affairs (the One Big, Beautiful Bill) and the Middle East (the USA and Israel reducing Iran's nuclear program to rubble). That happens, but we are reminded that there is still a problem in Eastern Europe, specifically in Ukraine, where it's still slash-and-snap time. The United States has been helping Ukraine out with arms shipments, but everyone knows that can't go on forever.
On Tuesday, "not forever" reared its head. The Pentagon has looked at inventories and will be stopping shipments of some missiles and other munitions. Why? Because we're running dangerously low.
The decision was driven by the Pentagon’s policy chief, Elbridge Colby, and was made after a review of Pentagon munitions stockpiles, leading to concerns that the total number of artillery rounds, air defense missiles and precision munitions was sinking, according to three people familiar with the issue.
The initial decision to withhold some aid promised during the Biden administration came in early June, according to the people, but is only taking effect now as Ukraine is beating back some of the largest Russian barrages of missiles and drones at civilian targets in Kyiv and elsewhere.
This shouldn't be a surprise. Munitions inventories do not make a cornucopia; we have only a certain number of each type of weapon, and no doubt some Pentagon number crunchers are watching the numbers fall, looking at China out of one corner of their eyes, and raising some objections.
It seems those objections have been heard.
In a statement following the publication of this story, White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said that the decision “was made to put America’s interests first following a DOD review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe. The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned — just ask Iran.”
Included among the items being pulled back are missiles for Patriot air defense systems, precision artillery rounds, Hellfire and other missiles that Ukraine launches from its F-16 fighters and drones.
Those are, of course, the same munitions that would be vitally important if American forces become engaged anywhere.
See Also: Russia Launches Massive Retaliatory Strikes on Kyiv
New: Ukraine Attempts to Destroy a Major Russian Logistic Link
Now, there's a great argument to be made here that our inventories shouldn't have been in any danger in the first place. If any country on the planet should have substantial supplies of ammo, it should be the United States, and we can hope that the Trump administration's budget priorities for the Pentagon include ramping up our inventories. Secretary Hegseth no doubt understands that no nation ever lost a war because they had too much ammo.
This may put Ukraine in an even greater bind than they are already in:
Tom Karako, a missile defense expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the decision underscores the vulnerability of Ukraine’s forces.
“Air defense won’t win a war for you — but the absence of it will lose one fast,” he said.
Karako pointed to Army budget documents revealing a quiet quadrupling of its requirement for Patriot MSE interceptors. But even with increased funding, he said, ramping up production will take time.
“You can’t just flip a switch,” he said.
And that inability to just flip a switch affects our vulnerability, or lack thereof, as well. The first priority is making sure our people have enough beans and bullets to fend off any unpleasantness. Nothing is more important.
Editor's Note: Thanks to President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's leadership, the warrior ethos is coming back to America's military.
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