Military Part #2

Without looking it up I suspect the purpose of the US military is primarily twofold. One is protection of the US from foreign attack. It is pretty much a given that no country at least, would dare attack America. If they did it would be a pretty clear and decisive smack-down at the hands of the US military.

The second purpose appears to be the promotion of good governance and democracy in foreign countries.  One would assume that the foreign land would have to have some US strategic interests, or there would be too many interventions. This may explain why the US is involved in Iraq and not Syria.

To the credit of the USA, America does not appear to have any expansionist plans. Unlike the Roman & British Empires, America is content with the land they currently occupy.

Even a military as strong and powerful as America's can run into difficulty in foreign interventions. The prime example would be Vietnam. That war was lost. In the end the Communists from the North took over the South, which they occupy to this day. One could imagine if the USA had decided to put forth enough resources they could have won that war. Americans made a decision that it was not worth the lives of more American soldiers, or the financial cost.

The Iraq War was a winner. The reason for going to war in Iraq is still suspect. If regime change is the goal, then Syria would be an obvious choice, but the US military is spread too thin in two wars already. There is no desire from a blood and treasure standpoint to enter another war.  You have to believe that when the US pulls out of Afghanistan, that the country will revert back to the Taliban. Yet it was the more justifiable war of the two. Saudi Arabia, where the 9-11 terrorists originated and were financed, apparently was given a pass for strategic (oil) reasons.  

Canada sat out the second Iraq War, which appears to have been a good call. We did send troops to Afghanistan. While genuine efforts were made to improve the lot of the people, in particular girls, we all know that the country will not remain a democracy after the last of US troops depart.

A third goal of the US military appears to be to act as a deterrent to Arab countries hostility toward Israel.

If I were looking for ways to save money on the US military, I would recommend closing bases in Europe, South Korea and Japan. At least cutting back resources dramatically. China and Russia are weak militarily. Russia appears to be a spent force.  I would cut back on Naval spending. This recommendation from an ex-Navy man. I would cut back on submarines (cold war), save the aircraft carriers, if used in lieu of overseas bases as a quick strike capability for aircraft.

I would suggest that a less interventionist strategy would save lives and treasure, as well as likely stir up less hatred among foreign radicals.

If you are going to send young people to war, you have to spend on their reintegration back into civilian life, as well as full funding for war related medical treatment once they return home disabled. To make cuts for those treatments in Canada and the US cannot be justified.