The rare earth issue facing the United States is not a mining story. It’s a materials story.Modern defense systems are not built on ore bodies. They are built on rare earth metals, alloys, and permanent magnets. And while the U.S. has resources in the ground, it still does not reliably control the steps that turn mined material into usable, qualified inputs for industry and defense. That exposure sits in the middle of the supply chain, after mining and before finished components. It’s the point where separated material must be converted…