> the government pays the soldiers/airmen/marines/sailors a wage for their services. Those service members and their families then use that money to purchase ot

> the government pays the soldiers/airmen/marines/sailors a wage for their services. Those service members and their families then use that money to purchase other services. This helps bolster the overall american economy. > the government pays contractors to provide all the food/water/clothing/bullets/office equipment/communication equipment/whatever needed to conduct war. This creates jobs, which helps the american economy. > the government contracts flights from airlines to transport troops to and from warzones. this creates more jobs and helps bolster the airline industry. Couldn't we just instead cut a check to all those people who would have been involved? That would free up their time to go do something productive, and they'd still have the cash in hand to stimulate the economy or whatever. Wouldn't we be even better off? Even in the worse case, where they take the money and do nothing, it would be a wash. Also both of you and OP mention "dessert countries" but afaik we have no real plans to bomb or invade Switzerland.