This would be more informative if it were layered with some other data; some metric for geopolitical instability, trade deficit, local currency valued in $, oil

This would be more informative if it were layered with some other data; some metric for geopolitical instability, trade deficit, local currency valued in $, oil production in barrels, similarity of votes in the U.N....etc. You know, anything to see if the troop placements were good investments.