Our military should be for the protection of US citizens, and not the citizens of Iraq or N. Korea or Mexico etc.
Well there are two responses,
1- Along with being the strongest power on the planet comes some responsibility to do what's best for the planet, so on some occassions the US should look toward the planet's health and not just US's benefit. It's the old "with great strength comes great responsibility" idea, and also
That's arrogant......you presume we know what's best for the planet. At least some of our behavior would suggest otherwise.
2- It's not too hard to argue that deposing oppressive dictatorships in Iraq, NK, Zimbabwe and wherever IS good for the US, primarily in terms of economic benefit, and over the longer term reduced military spending.
We will never have reduced defense spending because those of us who are paranoid will insist upon maintaining current levels. Part of the right's furor is that defense spending was reduced under Clinton.
Furthermore, this society is way to aggressive, militaristic and patriarchal to go soft on defense. The humility of not having an erection would kill us!
If you have three strong adult sons living in your house, and your 98 lb. weakling neighbor beats up his tiny 60 lb. wife in their living room every night, and that's your world (no police or UN or any other outside regulators in this theoretical world), don't you think you (and your sons) have a responsibility to do something to stop your evil, violent neighbor from beating his wife?
Call the police.
ted
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