I have to say that I agree with the OP's main concerns. I am quite liberal to moderate in most of my views but I am also no pacifist. Having studied some history I am aware that when other stronger nations or not so strong countries perceive a weakness in your own country's position in either power, or you have something that they want like land or resources, they will take advantage of you. It is just human nature. I think the U.S. needs to maintain a strong military and keep up with technology. According to one video I have seen (5 Ways America is Already Socialist) American taxpayers' give 27% of every dollar to the military, which budgets out at $598.5 billion, to the detriment of other things such as science, education, and infrastructure. Sometimes we have heard over the years the military budget wasteful spending (and other government spending) on such things as 50 dollar hammers or 200 dollar toilet seats. When I learned, a few years back, that the U.S. Army was spending money on dowsing research (holding two rods or a forked stick to find water, or in this case, bunkers and tunnels) I flipped! I could not believe that shit! We should spend smarter, not larger. I support a strong military for defense mainly, and should only have just enough weaponry to smack the shit out of any country that attacks us. But nowadays, like this war with ISIS, we really are not serious about winning it or defeating the enemy when it comes to an actual war. It is all "surgical strikes" and "air campaigns" and mostly politically motivated and/or operated.
"The price of freedom is eternal vigilance."--Thomas Jefferson
