Why Do We Need A Strong Defense?

[Yavin4]

Why do we need to spend the largest percentage of GDP amongst the developed nations on defense? Why? Who is coming to attack us? The Chinese? If the Chinese attacked us, we would have to borrow money from them in order to stop them. Al Qeada? Osama threatens us using VHS tapes. Call me when he goes Blu Ray.

I recall when the Cold War ended, and everyone talked about a peace dividend. Where in the hell is it?

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. That's why I like the idea of Strength Through Peace

Kucinich had the only sane foreign policy plan I've ever seen.

[hedgehog]

2. I'm with you. And I'd like to add, enough of this business of the

President posturing as Commmander-in-Chief. That is just one of many duties of the President.

[Birthmark]

The peace dividend is being spent...

...in "protecting" us from Iraq. They had an RC aeroplane, you know. Stick a fire extinguisher on that baby, and they could have wiped out the entire East Coast.

I agree. We can more than balance the budget simply by cutting defense spending to something rational, say 1/2 or 1/3 what we currently spend.

[Yavin4]

6. Iraq Never Attacked Us

We have fought two wars against one nation, and occupied their land since the early 90s. Yet, they have not harmed us in any way at all.

[AlCzervik]

3. because defense contractors like to sell their wares abroad and at home.

[Mojambo]

4. Empires require armies. n/t

[MadMaddie]

5. I think there is a such thing as a strong defense and preemptive

bloodletting strikes as this administration believes in.

There really was a moment in time where there could have been a real peace throughout the world and * blew it and attacked a country that wasn't involved in 9/11.

[Warpy]

7. We need a strong defense, but what we don't need

is an imperial military with bases all over the world, acting as hired muscle for misbehaving multinational corporations, outfits who have gotten out from under the taxes that pay for a bloated military.

If we ask our children to face death in warfare, there must be a better reason for it than geopolitical gerrymandering or corporate profit.

The Pentagon needs to go on a strict diet. Our military needs its mission redefined. We can't afford Empire.

[I work for workers]

8. Because the US is the guarantor of global

trade, energy supplies, collective security, and freedom of the seas. We have taken all of these necessary mission upon ourselves, and they require a large military presence around the globe.

After accounting for all that, you have to factor in Americas perpetual tendency towards military adventurism. That requires a huge military presence to maintain itself.

[Yavin4]

13. Why Does The US Need To Be The Guarantor of Global Trade

Should not all nations that participate in global trade equally participate in the collective security, and freedom of the seas?

[I work for workers]

16. Most nations don't want to help.

Even if they could actually do the work, they can't. No other nation has a blue water navy large enough to keep the seas free, or air and ground forces powerful enough to influence the world towards stability. The US is the only country strong enough to do these things.

Other nations could help pay the bills we rack up stabilizing the Persian Gulf in order to protect their oil supplies (believe it or not, this was our historical role there for many decades, and still is to some degree)and other such American efforts, but so far no nation seems too forthcoming about doing so. It's hard to blame them, free riding is fun.

[Yavin4]

17. Then They Should Pay For The Protection

You don't get to do business in a community without paying for the cops.

[I work for workers]

18. Your preaching to the choir.

Unfortunately, the only way to make them pay tends to require vast military spending...

[Yavin4]

19. Or We Can Just Not Pay For It Any More

The U.S. govt's obligation is not enable global trade.

[I work for workers]

21. It's not our obligation, it's our interest.

That won't change any time soon, nor should it.

[Yavin4]

25. It's Not "Our" Interests

It's the global corporatists interests who want to exploit cheap labor markets.

[JosephSchmo]

9. We need a strong defense. We don't need what we currently have

We need to be able to defend ourselves. What we are doing now is way beyond that and only puts us in more danger.

[Rageneau]

10. We DO NOT need a strong defense.

It is a lie that we need a strong defense -- a lie told by defense contractors who have Congress in their pockets.

There is no possible way that any nation now existing could attack America in any way except a random terrorist act, which is something no defense, no matter how 'strong' can prevent. Since we have no one to defend against, we obviously don't need a strong defense.

Problem is, we've been brainwashed into supporting a bloated OFFENSE which exists to impose our capitalist will on the poor of other nations for the benefit of the plutocrats. The only reason our armed forces are so big is so we can force other people to give us their wallets. Our military machine is the moral equivalent of an armed robber. Yet we've been told it is unpatriotic not to support it.

The wingnut conservatives made us put "In God We Trust" on our money and made us include "Under God" in the Pledge of Alliegiance. If conservatives believe that we really trust in God, then what do we need with an overbloated defense? Either we trust in God, or we don't

[Dukkha]

11. because the whole world hates us

because of our military strong arming of the world. So we need a big defense to protect us then we invade a country to justify the buildup and then the cycle continues.

[mmonk]

12. That's because it's offense, not defense.

[Echo In Light]

14. It's a smoke/mirrors trick called the National Security State/military-industrial complex

Like many aspects of America, "defense" is a spun "Orwellian" term. America doesn't "defend," it ATTACKS, and when it cannot unilaterally, does so by proxy wars/state sponsored terror and aggression. There isn't a "war on terror," but a very real war OF terror. Whever you're listening to an American politician/pundit talk about "our enemies," just turn everything around and apply it to our govt. It's usually quite applicable

[hunter]

15. Because bullies are cowards.

Any other questions?

[bonito]

20. What you said.

[Jade Fox]

23. check this out....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/philip-slater/why-americans-are-such-ne_b_86456.html

[Jade Fox]

22. This explaination works for me....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/philip-slater/why-americans-are-such-ne_b_86456.html

[asdjrocky]

24. Because they hate our freedom.

Gawd, where have you been?

[ileus]

26. It's called the American paranoid complex.

Same reason millions of people carry pistols to the mall....