Question for DUers-

[malaise]

Why does the US need such a large military?

[asiliveandbreathe]

1. OIL!!!! eom

[unblock]

2. assuming facts not in evidence.

we don't *need* a military this large.

we are the richest nation and do need a military to protect ourselves and our wealth.

but much of the military is used to project power over the rest of the world, defend our allies, and don't forget it's also basically a welfare program (albeit for corporations, which trickles down somewhat to people).

[malaise]

3. I can see the need for any country to protect oneself but

from the outside it appears to be more about stealing the wealth of other countries particularly those of us without power or weapons. And of course slaughtering anyone in the way or who refuses to side with the looters.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

14. We need to steal the wealth of other countries ...

... before Russia or China create military bases there to steal their wealth.

Our working theory is that the USA will be a kinder, gentler master than China. Both countries are vying for influence in Africa, South America, Pacific, etc.

I will be rooting for the Jamaican bobsleigh and skeleton athletes, and ignoring world politics for the next two weeks.

[malaise]

15. Thanks

We'll all have to live without Rachel and Lawrence for two weeks.

Thanks for the cheers. I don't expect a medal.

[underpants]

4. It's also a jobs program

Mostly in the South. Most of the large military bases and posts are in the South because that Spanish Armada could pop up at any time you know.

Each base creates a lot of jobs in the community from housing to retail to restaurants to auto dealerships.

[TexasBushwhacker]

21. Yes. A very big, inefficient jobs program

And when anyone starts talking about budget cuts or closing bases, there is an uproar over lost jobs. I get that, but I just wish spent some of that money on other things, like reparing and upgrading our infrastructure.

[lagomorph777]

5. We need to have more military than the rest of the world combined.

Because Trump is going to make the rest of the world combine to put a stop to his madness.

[underpants]

6. Because we need 13 aircraft carriers

Duh!

[Floyd R. Turbo]

7. Bigger dick foreign policy!

[LanternWaste]

8. pros and cons

Pros: The Twilight War (David Crist), War of Necessity, War of Choice (Richard N. Haass)

Cons: America's War for the Greater Middle East (Andrew Bacevich), The Moral Injury of Our Longest Wars (David Wood)

Neither: Rise and Fall of the Great Powers (Paul Kennedy)

[marylandblue]

9. Department of Defense is the Republican Job Corp

So a military officer told me.

[KT2000]

10. military/indusrrial complex

donates to their benefactors and hires the ex-government honchos for big bucks - revolving door.

[TheBlackAdder]

11. We didn't have a big one until after WWII started. It's socialism to fight off communism.

.

The threat of fascism and the fight to stop the spread of Russian/Chinese communism led to the permanent force.

Without the defense industry in many states, their economies would collapse.


And with any program, there are always the pigs who suck at the teet of government.

.

[johnp3907]

12. $$$$$$$

And also $!

[LiberalArkie]

13. The only reason the U.S. has one is so that our senators and representatives who are in

the know can buy stock in certain companies an make a ton of money from it. Naturally not including campaign contributions. Why the votes to go to war? Buying more smart bombs, cruise missiles etc naturally raises the stock prices. Why arnt the PFC's doing the cooking and cleaning - well no profit in that.

Really simple.

[Hoyt]

16. Its the only domestic product we have that is difficult to outsource. Its a big

part of our employment because we can’t bully the world with a military like everyone else.

Our country’s priorities are misplaced. But I don’t see it changing anytime soon.

[spanone]

17. We forgot what Eisenhower warned:

"In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The

potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists, and will persist."

https://www.npr.org/2011/01/17/132942244/ikes-warning-of-military-expansion-50-years-later

[malaise]

19. For real

Now they'll deprive the old, the young and the sick to feed it.

[Egnever]

18. Fear

Same reason gun nuts cling to their guns.

[RandomAccess]

20. Because those military contractors have to be fed regularly, of course

[lpbk2713]

22. Featherbedding

The more people a General/Admiral has under him/her the more important he/she appears.