We sure did spend a ton of money in Iraq. We have this concept of "nation building" and trying to make the world a better place, and this rarely works. It worked at the close of WWII with the Marshal Plan and Europe, but... The Middle Eastern / Muslin culture isn't ready for us yet. I look at my next door neighbor and I see a man; They look at their next door neighbor and see someone who does't believe in the same religion. What a shame.
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Originally Posted by Robbie
When we entered WW2 we weren't prepared for it. But we mobilized and within weeks we built a huge military force. There was no need to spend ridiculous amounts to be "ready".
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You couldn't be more wrong.
The US military wasn't "fully prepared" for war in December of 1941, the truth is the United States was claiming "neutrality" it was in fact gearing up for war. Before general war broke out in Europe, President Roosevelt proclaimed a "limited national emergency" and authorized large increases in military forces as well as increased spending in equipment and investments into more technology, specifically aircraft. During 1940 and 1941 the US Army conducted some of the largest training maneuvers in world history.
By April 1941 both the US Army and US Navy was well prepared. By this point the US Navy was most likely the leader in Aircraft Carrier technology, and the US Marines had spend the past decade perfecting close air support and amphibious landings.
When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, the nation was stunned and American men signed up in large numbers, but our military was ready before then.
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Originally Posted by Robbie
Now in 2013 we have already spent the last 60 years building a huge military for no reason.
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Perhaps maybe you give some thought to what would have happened if the US did not spend the last sixty years building a huge military for "no reason". The landscape would be vastly different if we didn't; The only thing preventing the Soviet Union from taking control of all of Europe during the 1950s and 1960s was the fact that the US had such a large military force - and the same with China in the Pacific.