[pibechorro]

There is an obvious answer. The military needs to be mainly focused on Homeland defense, as it was intended. Being world police is stupid and wastefull. Its bankrupted us just like every empire that over extends itself (and debases its currency).

[robcohen]

Seems non-obvious to me. The world currency is the dollar presently. We protect the trade routes around the world. Remove that protection, those trade routes will no longer be in our favor. Whoever controls them will set up tariffs to massively hurt the US and benefit themselves.

Put another way, how do you think the US would fare long term if China and Russia controlled all international trade?

[justsomehnguy]

> We protect the trade routes around the world.

From whom exactly?