Si vis pacem, para bellum [1] or "If you want peace, prepare for war". Yes, there are many downsides to war, those millions of dead people you mention amongst

Si vis pacem, para bellum [1] or "If you want peace, prepare for war". Yes, there are many downsides to war, those millions of dead people you mention amongst them. The thing is, just because you have decided the downsides of war - millions of dead etc - do not weigh up to the potential upsides does not mean your neighbour thinks the same. Eventually you'll get a neighbour who sees you as ripe for the picking, unprepared for war as you are. Some people might die, sure, you being one of them, but in this neighbour's eye the trade-off is worth it. Humans are a belligerent species. Just wishing for this not to be the case does not make it so. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Si_vis_pacem%2C_para_bellum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Si_vis_pacem%2C_para_bellum