Yes, I can certainly see how such an argument can be made. I can think of counter-examples like India, which had been antagonistic towards the US for decades.

Yes, I can certainly see how such an argument can be made. I can think of counter-examples like India, which had been antagonistic towards the US for decades. This was especially apparent when the US provided naval support to Pakistan during the 1971 Indo-Pak war. And yet last I checked, India hadn't been erased from the surface of the Earth. But my original point stands - Pax Americana was very much worth it for America and her allies. The cost of the military budget used to maintain Pax Americana paid for itself.