Opinion Why US spends so much on the army?

[WTF2008]

Its a weapon aimed at every american and human civilization in addition to whatever meaningless threat the government thinks up. Nukes are depressing.

They're pretty much useless now. The retards that decide this stuff will be in bunkers.

It's all scare tactics for more money.

 

[Prutfis]

Because military gadgets are fucking cool

/thread

 

[Phr3121]

Because Zionists own and the run the American Government. This is why America obliterates all of Israels enemies in wars that the average American citizen has nothing to gain from. -- ... lied to the US people about Iraqs weapons of mass destruction, and blew up the twin towers on 911.

Just make sure you know the difference between a Jew and a Zionist. Neither owns or runs America. They do influence the U.S. Congress though. Osama bin Laden was not Jewish, he was Muslim. Leader of al-Qaeda, who coordinated the 9/11 attacks. 15 of the hijackers were from Saudi Arabia, not Israel. al-Qaeda and bin Laden were in Afghanistan at the time of 9/11. That is why the U.S. invaded Afghanistan. You have Iran, Iraq, and Jordan to the West before you get to Israel. Afghanistan has never posed a threat to Israel. Iraq did have WMD, chemical, not nuclear. Saddam Hussein used it against the Kurds in Northern Iraq -- fact.

I'm Catholic, not Jewish, and was serving in the U.S. Army during 9/11. 3,000 Americans died at the hands of al-Qaeda during 9/11. You are doing a disservice to U.S. veterans by writing some of this garbage.

 

[danny23]

How do you feel about the UK maintaining an arsenal? @danny23?

It's not merely a deterrent from other nuclear strikes - which is obvious mutual destruction anyway - it's a deterrent for any kind of hypothetical direct military action being taken on the UK by any states which, in either the present or future, possess greater conventional war capabilities simply for the potential consequences it presents.

You get what you pay for and it's as minimal as it is credible. If you're only going to pick one form of deterrent between sea-based SLBMs, land-launched ICBMs and/or tactical aircraft bomber capabilities, the SLBMs are definitely the way to go and nuclear-powered submarines are both the most reliable and least vulnerable to being taken out. The British Vanguard-class SSBNs are equivalent in quality to US kit.

Of course, the bilateral US-UK Mutual Defence Agreement for direct collaboration on the design, development, maintenance and exchange of materials for thermonuclear weapons is among the most significant and exclusive treaties in existence and firmly underscores the political, and economic ties between the two. It's actually written into US law and decennial renewal (due next in 2024) is not debated nor voted on in UK parliament.

It's also likely in contravention to the international Non-Proliferation Treaty, but who the fuck is going to do anything about it?

Have we been attacked or threatened with nuclear weapons since we began operating them?

If yes; then no, they're not an effective deterrent.
If no; then yes, they are.

The whole point of trident is a country thinking twice before militarily engaging with us. They would never risk nuclear war and therefore it provides an even greater defence than the military itself some can argue.

They're also relatively cheap and the benefits outweigh the drawbacks by a wide margin, even if they're just lying around for decades.

They're also a strong political tool. Possessing them ensures UK's position as a power on the world stage, a permanent seat in the UN council and a leading member in NATO and its' affairs.

(^ This can be applied to every country possessing them.)

 

[2gps125]

What else will the US do with all the Rednecks who sign up to be bullet sponges in the Army/Marines?

 

[The Sole Survivor]

This is why.... China and Russia.... Vostok 2018....

live fire

massive army

3 hours




Better to be safe then sorry.

 

[GhostZ06]

Why not use fraction of that sum and have 1000's of maintained and ready nukes instead. And use rest of the money for whatever US needs?

Just curious.

We border 2 oceans and we're a super power. When you entire super power status you're military tends to be massive. However, since we border 2 oceans by default we need a a massive navy and airforce.
No matter how anyone want to put it we need one for that alone.

 

[Chris Gaines]

Just make sure you know the difference between a Jew and a Zionist. Neither owns or runs America. They do influence the U.S. Congress though. Osama bin Laden was not Jewish, he was Muslim. Leader of al-Qaeda, who coordinated the 9/11 attacks. 15 of the hijackers were from Saudi Arabia, not Israel. al-Qaeda and bin Laden were in Afghanistan at the time of 9/11. That is why the U.S. invaded Afghanistan. You have Iran, Iraq, and Jordan to the West before you get to Israel. Afghanistan has never posed a threat to Israel. Iraq did have WMD, chemical, not nuclear. Saddam Hussein used it against the Kurds in Northern Iraq -- fact.

I'm Catholic, not Jewish, and was serving in the U.S. Army during 9/11. 3,000 Americans died at the hands of al-Qaeda during 9/11. You are doing a disservice to U.S. veterans by writing some of this garbage.

'Garbage' is a great way to describe the official version of The 9/11 attack on The World Trade Centre. Anyone who believes it is doing a disservice to themselves.

 

[NoDak]

Have we been attacked or threatened with nuclear weapons since we began operating them?

If yes; then no, they're not an effective deterrent.
If no; then yes, they are.

The whole point of trident is a country thinking twice before militarily engaging with us. They would never risk nuclear war and therefore it provides an even greater defence than the military itself some can argue.

They're also relatively cheap and the benefits outweigh the drawbacks by a wide margin, even if they're just lying around for decades.

They're also a strong political tool. Possessing them ensures UK's position as a power on the world stage, a permanent seat in the UN council and a leading member in NATO and its' affairs.

(^ This can be applied to every country possessing them.)

Bang On.

This was pretty much everything I was looking for (and it's correct) but I wasn't going to make any assumptions. All silly internet bantz between respective citizens aside, the US/UK are joined at the hip in more ways than you can shake a stick at - culturally, historically, politically, economically, militarily, scientifically, technologically. The POTUS and PM's come and go, it's an extraordinarily potent alliance; you punch above your weight and that's a big reason why the US values GB.

 

[Carl Sonnen]

I didn't read the replies so I don't know if anyone has said this yet, but the reason why America spends so much on the military is because the military backs the confidence in the economy and the dollar. Without a strong military, the dollar would not be the reserve currency of the world, and that is coming to an end soon regardless of how much we spend on the military. The dollar is fiat currency, which means there is nothing to back it up in terms of a physical commodity, like gold. When Nixon took the US off the gold standard in 1971, the dollar's devaluation, which began in earnest in 1913, accelerated. By excessively printing dollars and issuing debt, the US weakens the currency and levies a stealth tax on all who hold dollars, which are worth less each time new dollars are printed or new debt is issued. A strong military, along with the threat of violence, backs the US in its economic endeavors. Markets are opened and trade conducted in a favorable light to US interests because of that strong military. You may have heard the term "Banana Republic," which speaks to the American use of the military to secure resources and dominate markets in a fashion which is decidedly not free market. In fact, our economy is more fascist than free market anymore. See the documentary "Princes of Yen" for some more perspective on how America has mimicked some fascist policies of the Axis.

 

[NoDak]

I didn't read the replies so I don't know if anyone has said this yet, but the reason why America spends so much on the military is because the military backs the confidence in the economy and the dollar. Without a strong military, the dollar would not be the reserve currency of the world, and that is coming to an end soon regardless of how much we spend on the military. The dollar is fiat currency, which means there is nothing to back it up in terms of a physical commodity, like gold. When Nixon took the US off the gold standard in 1971, the dollar's devaluation, which began in earnest in 1913, accelerated. By excessively printing dollars and issuing debt, the US weakens the currency and levies a stealth tax on all who hold dollars, which are worth less each time new dollars are printed or new debt is issued. A strong military, along with the threat of violence, backs the US in its economic endeavors. Markets are opened and trade conducted in a favorable light to US interests because of that strong military. You may have heard the term "Banana Republic," which speaks to the American use of the military to secure resources and dominate markets in a fashion which is decidedly not free market. In fact, our economy is more fascist than free market anymore. See the documentary "Princes of Yen" for some more perspective on how America has mimicked some fascist policies of the Axis.

To be fair though, it's been "coming to an end" for well over a decade now and there's still not much of a realistic alternative.

USD currently makes up 65% of global reserves, the Euro another 20% give or take and the EU is heading for a tail spin. The CCP in China wants absolutely nothing to do with the capital inflows, reduced exports and increased unemployment that comes with being the world's reserve currency. It would delegitimize the regime and their whole existence is like one big vested interest against it.

The US is actually undergoing a major revival from the bottom up as a global agriculture, energy and industrial powerhouse while continuing to dominate high technology sectors and boasting a far more positive demography outlook than any other country in the developed world.

There's few things more important for a sovereign nation on fundamental level than being food secure and energy independent. The United States is soon to be both, the vast majority of the world isn't and America's biggest geopolitical and economic rival is neither.

 

[Carl Sonnen]

To be fair though, it's been "coming to an end" for well over a decade now and there's still not much of a realistic alternative.

USD currently makes up 65% of global reserves, the Euro another 20% give or take and the EU is heading for a tail spin. The CCP in China wants absolutely nothing to do with the capital inflows, reduced exports and increased unemployment that comes with being the world's reserve currency. It would delegitimize the regime and their whole existence is like one big vested interest against it.

The US is actually undergoing a major revival from the bottom up as a global agriculture, energy and industrial powerhouse while continuing to dominate high technology sectors and boasting a far more positive demography outlook than any other country in the developed world.

There's few things more important for a sovereign nation on fundamental level than being food secure and energy independent. The United States is soon to be both, the vast majority of the world isn't and America's biggest geopolitical and economic rival is neither.

I'm exhausted or I would try to give you a better reply, but China is making a bid for reserve currency status. The recent opening of the oil exchange in which the yuan can easily be converted to gold is just one factor. Another is the Silk Road project. Not least of all, China is building a powerful navy to rival the US, which also mimics it. Also, you are incorrect in buying the fracking scam if you think America is really 'energy independent.' Those fracking fields peter out quickly. Another 2-3 years max and we are done on those.

 

[NoDak]

I'm exhausted or I would try to give you a better reply, but China is making a bid for reserve currency status. The recent opening of the oil exchange in which the yuan can easily be converted to gold is just one factor. Another is the Silk Road project. Not least of all, China is building a powerful navy to rival the US, which also mimics it. Also, you are incorrect in buying the fracking scam if you think America is really 'energy independent.' Those fracking fields peter out quickly. Another 2-3 years max and we are done on those.

It's really just an oil futures contract, so there might be more trading at home rather than New York or London but it has no tangible impact on the dollar's reserve currency status.

I didn't say the US was energy independent (yet) and it'll always import a small amount for various reasons but in a functional sense yes that is coming, and it just assumed the position of the world's top crude oil producer, will soon be a net energy exporter for the first time in 65 years. How you could doubt US shale at this juncture given the last decade is honestly beyond me. As posted in the other thread about it:

It's probably best paraphrased by political intelligence consultant Gary K. Busch:

"There were lessons learned in the production of fracked oil and gas in the United States with OPEC’s desire to drive the US industry to its knees and start an oil pricing war to make fracking uncompetitive. Instead of folding up their hands, US producers innovated new processes and introduced new technologies which drove down operating costs. Now, OPEC cannot compete and is fighting a losing battle to drive out US shale. America will be self-sufficient in energy by late 2019.

There are numerous new techniques being applied including smart drill-bits with computer chips that can seek out cracks in the rock and adjust the drilling accordingly, fully degradable fracture balls and seats to isolate zones during well stimulation that eliminates previous limitations on lateral lengths and maximizes estimated ultimate recovery while reducing risks and costs as well as expandable tubulars, more cost-effective rotary steerable systems, and intelligent drill pipe for high-rate bottomhole data telemetry drilling to depths no longer limited by initial hole diameter.”

Speaking of technological innovation and computer chips, China can't engineer them and has no domestic semiconductor industry to speak of. They are dependent on the US, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan whom are all broadly hostile towards them. For its part, the US spawned the industry itself has over half the global market share, ditto for aerospace.

This doesn't even address the massive problems with the PRC's financial system akin to late 80s Japan or the resurgence taking place in US manufacturing that will see it become the most competitive country in the world circa late 2020.

I'm just saying not to get your hopes up.

 

[Chappi]

I think you are the only one that has not figured this out yet. No one is ever going to use nukes. They were really never built with the intention of being used -- just to scare the other side into thinking we would use them.

Goddamn, you have got to be kidding me !!
Nukes were never built with the intention to be used ??
Then what happened in Hiroshima ?
Don't lie to yourself and tell yourself that it won't/can't happen again.
If the weapon is there is will be used at some point.
There is only 1 way to not use a weapon and that is by not having it.

 

[Darth_Inv1ctu5]

Why not use fraction of that sum and have 1000's of maintained and ready nukes instead. And use rest of the money for whatever US needs?

Just curious.

Military industrial complex.

 

[AGGAMEMNON66]

That's fucking terrifying.

And that’s why we spend the money. To be terrifying to anyone who wants to try some shit.

 

[NoDak]

Nice

Edit: And you've since changed it to a god damn dog.

 

[Phr3121]

Then what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki?

WWII does not count. Those were atomic bombs of 20 kilotons (puny). We now have thermonuclear weapons (H-bomb) of 15 megatons. No, don't see those being used. Do you know what 15 megatons can do? The Russians exploded a 50 megaton bomb in 1961. It had reverberations around the world with a cloud of radiation. All of Europe was affected. A nuclear war today would end life on planet Earth. Radiation and a nuclear winter.

 

[NoDak]

Oh thank God. I feel safe now

Did you receive your "Presidential Alert" yesterday?

 

[trident]

Did you receive your "Presidential Alert" yesterday?

I didn't.

Feeling snubbed