Why would you not believe them? Our defense manufacturing base has withered just like all the other manufacturing sectors. They’re being used faster than they’re being made and no one really planned for this war. Same reason the Strategic Petroleum Reserve is so low.

I think it's the same bubble that many in the West live in because they have been at peace mostly and cant fathom that much of it has been from de facto state of detente from states that are now threatened by its economic order.

Iran and Russia figured out a way to arbitrage expensive AD that were designed to take down jets and other ballistic missiles with predictability at scale and its still a source of disbelief particularly in the mainstream.

Drones have rewritten the rules of modern warfare and we will likely see maps change as a result.