Notes in the Margin

"Mr Rubio said President Donald Trump was forced into a preemptive response after learning of an imminent Israeli attack."

The Iranians are sending their cheapest and oldest missiles first, to deplete the US' stock of interceptor missiles. Then Iran will send its newer, better missiles. 

Meanwhile, the administration has stopped claiming regime change is a reason for the war. But instead claims Iranian missiles, which can't reach the USA, are the "threat." 

"Crude oil benchmarks rose more than $4 on Tuesday, soaring for a third session as the U.S.-Israeli conflict with ​Iran widens..."

President Trump told The Post Monday that he’s not ruling out sending US ground troops into Iran “if they were necessary.” 

"While the president boasts... military leaders are sounding the alarm behind the scenes about U.S. air defense stockpiles running out if the fighting goes on" for several weeks.

"Analysts have warned that prices could top $100 a barrel if oil trade is disrupted for a prolonged period of time, or if the war spills over into neighboring countries."

According to a Reuters poll conducted on Sunday, only 27% of Americans support the US attacking Iran. 43% of Americans oppose the war. 

"Trump administration officials ⁠acknowledged ⁠in closed-door briefings with congressional staff ⁠on Sunday that there was no intelligence suggesting Iran planned to attack U.S. forces." 

Kuwait “mistakenly” shot down three U.S. F-15 fighter jets on Sunday after strikes were launched against Iran one day earlier, according to U.S. Central Command (Centcom).