Both russia's and ukrane's armies are struggling to keep adequately armed. And for america, there are serious historical echoes. The people of europe who defending themselves, do not ask us to do their fighting. They ask us for the implements of war which will enable them to fight for their liberty and our security. For us, this is an emergency as serious as war itself.
America accounts for the lion’s share of weaponry sent to Ukraine. But that may leave it short of arms in onward conflicts; boosting production is not as easy as it may seem. The widespread cost-of-living crunch is particularly acute in Britain; we visit a food bank to see how people are coping. And the surprising demographic trends shaping contemporary California.
For full access to print, digital and audio editions of The Economist, subscribe here www.economist.com/intelligenceoffer