[UnpossibleJim]

So, in the 2022 released budget military spending accouted for 10 percent of all spending and 50% of discretionary spending. While we're spending that on active campaigns (not the dark ones), we aren't spending that on health care, education, infrastructure or disaster. Not to mention a cracking and floundering legal system in dire need of reform.

We outspend every other country by a lot, including China and Russia combined... and then the next three added on top. We are not the only world power who has a moral obligation to keep the world safe, if that is what you say we are doing.

I say this as the son of an Army veteran who died to 5 different cancers caused from agent orange, only 3 of which would the VA cover after we fought (hard) with them. And the cousin to a Navy admiral whose almost up to his 25 years.

[buscoquadnary]

Ya, but we have been the ones to keep the world order stable the rest of the world powers consist of the EU, Russia and China. China is currently actively prosecuting a campaign of religious genocide, Russia speaks for itself, and the countries in the EU that are part of NATO don't even contribute the amount of money they agreed to, much less have a willingness to send soldiers to fight and die in some other corner of the world.

The fact of the matter is the US is one of only 3 powers that can help maintain a stable world order, that reduces piracy, stops things like ISIS, and helps keep megolmanical dictators like Kim Jung Un in check.

You can argue other countries should be willing to contribute to that, but they don't. So those are your options China, Russia, or the US. You let me know which one you'd prefer, because as much as you don't like it those are your choices.

[UnpossibleJim]

Kim Jong Un doesn't exist without China, full stop. ISIS doesn't exist without the US and Russia. Those existential threats are pawns in a greater game left over from the 50's, 80's and 90's.

As for the EU, why would they meet their obligations when they could spend their money elsewhere? They're the fat 30 year old bachelor playing video games in their parents spare bedroom because they were never forced to leave. The US needs to take a step back and make them pay their own check at some point. It's time for the adults in the room to start adulting.

[sudosysgen]

It makes no sense to day Kim Jong Un doesn't exist without China. China has an interest in preventing a massive refugee crisis on their borders and are thus interested in the stability of North Korea.

Unless you think China should regime change North Korea and risk the death and displacement of millions of people?

If they could get Kim out without massive disaster then they would have done it yesterday. He causes them a lot of issues and they have been very reluctant to help him - they would have been well within their rights to, for example, veto all sanctions against North Korea.

[UnpossibleJim]

It's relatively well and widely known that the Kim Jung's and the military are supplied by China, partially to keep the peace, but partially as a diversionary state under their thumb. It isn't even conspiracy theory at this point, when retired generals start talking and writing about it.

N. Korea's population and military would have broken away long ago under such conditions without some outside support.

[sudosysgen]

It's not a diversionary state, it's really just a buffer, ie, not immediately hostile.

It's very very well documented that the Chinese are incredibly displeased with Kim Jong Un. Plenty of retired generals talk and write about it.

NK's population and military breaking away without outside support is far from guaranteed to bring a better outcome for anyone. It's not clear to me a military dictatorship is going to be less brutal or repressive than the Kims and it's not clear either that the population could ever break from the yoke of the military should the Kims lose power.