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Think this through. You could maintain a military so powerful no rational state would dare attack you. Or you could “right-size” until you get a military just b
by ghgdynb1 6y ago
Think this through. You could maintain a military so powerful no rational state would dare attack you. Or you could “right-size” until you get a military just barely powerful enough to defend your nation. You could very easily end up spending more in the second case, where you’d actually need to fight a life or death war, than in the first, where you just keep the military perpetually at the ready.
- paulryanrogers 6y agoExcept the risks to an oversized military can also include all-out war. A heavy footprint is a burden to allies and potential enemies alike. Even if balanced with 'carrots' the whole thing still weighs on the Earth's limited resources, which everyone must share. It also tempts one to abuse that power, even unintentionally so. Such abuse doesn't help maintain peace.