ElkinFencer10 wrote:The world takes advantage of our military because we make it so easy for them.
They probably wouldn't admit it, but a lot of western nations also love the fact that we basically pay for their defenses. (I strongly suspect that, if we didn't do so, they wouldn't enjoy as much of a social safety net and that we would have a lot more robust social services (or a smaller, drastically less expensive government).)
It's nice being the hegemon and all that, but it certainly is expensive...
prfsnl_gmr wrote:They probably wouldn't admit it, but a lot of western nations also love the fact that we basically pay for their defenses.
Without USA, NATO would fall apart, and Russia would annex all of Europe. Next time one of you Europeans want to denounce the USA, be glad you're at least not speaking Russian to do it.
prfsnl_gmr wrote:They probably wouldn't admit it, but a lot of western nations also love the fact that we basically pay for their defenses.
Without USA, NATO would fall apart, and Russia would annex all of Europe. Next time one of you Europeans want to denounce the USA, be glad you're at least not speaking Russian to do it.
ElkinFencer10 wrote:The world takes advantage of our military because we make it so easy for them.
They probably wouldn't admit it, but a lot of western nations also love the fact that we basically pay for their defenses. (I strongly suspect that, if we didn't do so, they wouldn't enjoy as much of a social safety net and that we would have a lot more robust social services (or a smaller, drastically less expensive government).)
It's nice being the hegemon and all that, but it certainly is expensive...
Actually this has been a major sticking point with our relationship with Japan. Article 9 of Japan's post-WWII constitution prohibits the use of war for resolving conflict and bans the formation of " land, sea, and air forces." While over time Japan has worked to change its interpretation of Article 9 to allow the formation of the Japan Self Defense Force and enable Japanese SDF support staff to visit battlefields and conflict zones, it has also resulted in Japan relying heavily on the US for its defense needs.
A major point of President Obama's foreign policy regarding US-Japan relations has been to support further liberalization of Article 9, and as of 2014, the Japanese Diet has decided that exercising military aid in the event of an ally coming under attack is permissible. Current Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has previously called during his earlier term in 2007 to "boldly review" the Japanese constitution and if possible amend or abolish Article 9, though his party has never been able to receive the 2/3 majority support it needs in the Diet to do this.
To be fair, in Japan's case it's our influence on the post WWII constitution that takes the choice away from them. There's an aspect of national pride that gets trampled on as a result.
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MrPopo wrote:To be fair, in Japan's case it's our influence on the post WWII constitution that takes the choice away from them. There's an aspect of national pride that gets trampled on as a result.
To some Japanese citizens, yes, though conversely a lot of Japanese citizens take pride in knowing that Japan does not and is legally unable to engage in military activity. The issue is a major flashpoint for them.
Really if we should learn anything from the last few wars it's that you don't invade a country, topple a regime, and try to rebuild it when it's neighboring regions aren't stable and/or friendly with the regime your toppling. We basically just threw fuel on the fire that is the Middle East with our recent conflicts and now we get to see the repercussions. Honestly we need to either A.) Obliterate the enemy as quickly as possible, or B.) do surgical strikes/operations targeting the worst problem areas covertly with a small specialized force. These long drawn out public wars just lead to more deaths, hate, and expenses in the long run and "rebuilding" then leaving does jack all when you have to go back and mop things up again within a decade. Another thing is training/arming the military of the country you just beat the hell out of is a horrible idea unless you are prepared to stay with them for the long haul.
People just need to learn that wars don't fix things they only break them and destroy lives. Sure down the road things may be "better" for the people we "liberated" eventually but they are going to go through hell for many years before that happens. So if your going to start a war you better have a damn good reason and be prepared for the aftermath.
He's 'Murican.
