Latest / The American Conservative Morning Briefing
August 16, 2026
Good morning! Today is Sunday, August 16th 2026, and this is The American Conservative's Morning Brief. A new trilateral defense pact signed in Mecca by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey signals that the Middle East's heaviest hitters are quietly moving to diversify away from American protection. As the war with Iran drags into its 169th day, President Trump vows to declare the Strait of Hormuz U.S. territory while dismissing morale concerns aboard the long-deployed USS Abraham Lincoln. Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon kill at least 11, including women and children, as Defense Minister…
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