Maybe. A lot of people assume that it is, but there isn't really good evidence that that's the case. The clear cut benefit is that drug dealers and rich Russian

Maybe. A lot of people assume that it is, but there isn't really good evidence that that's the case. The clear cut benefit is that drug dealers and rich Russians keep big stacks of $100 bills in vaults, but besides that it gets murkier. That said the US government certainly seems to think it is in our interest and work to maintain it.