This leaves gaps, which will take three or four years to fill, in America’s ability to fight future wars that might truly threaten its security interests. China, Russia, and North Korea have closely observed America’s wars over the past few decades and come away impressed, even daunted. About 20 years ago, Beijing’s military scientists started adapting to America’s technical innovations. The Chinese have been studying America’s military successes and failures for several decades and adapting their strategy (Photo: Tingshu Wang/Reuters)The war in Iran tells Chinese strategists that they’ve been on the right track. Asats can turn America’s smart bombs into dumb bombs.