http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_number_of_military_and_paramilitary_personnel We aren't even the 5th largest military in the world. This has become a huge problem in my mind. I understand we have some of the most advanced weaponry; but if even more spending is cut; that advancement will go with it. We need to get our military back on track. Cut other shit like Welfare and force them to enlist, instead of living off our wealth.
Sometimes the best defense is a good offense. We don't have to go to war; but we need to let other countries know that we are still a strong country.
I've said this before, but I would drastically alter our military. #1: I would pull back our troops from every base except Naval bases. #2: I would maintain the Navy as it is. Having the strongest Navy is paramount to being the most powerful. #3: I would cut down our standing Army to almost nothing. I would only leave the Ranger battalions and the Spec Ops units. #4: Marines would remain the same as I consider them to be connected to the Navy. #5: Air Force would be cut down to what is only necessary. Transport units, logistics, and bomber squadrons. I consider the Navy and Marines to be key to maintaining power around the globe. I do not think we need a huge standing Army. If anything, I would give more money to National Guard units and improve their training. I have experience with the Guard, and it's not pretty.
We spend 4 times what any other country does on military. The number of people doesn't really matter much.
When has our military been off track? And we don't have some of the most advanced weaponry, we have the most advanced weaponry. Instead of looking at how many people we have in the military why not look at how much we spend. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_spending We could cut spending in half (Which I'm not saying we should do) and we'd still be spending twice as much as the next country. We spend more on the military then the next 14 countries combined. Look at high ticket items like aircraft carriers, out greatest threats, Russia and China each have 1. We have 12. We also have 2 in reserve and are currently building 3 more. Where is our military off track? What conflict or war do we not currently have enough equipment or troops to engage in?
Enlistment: China: 1/282 people India: 1/255 people USA: 1/142 people Russia: 1/41 people North Korea: 1/3 people Pretty good for a volunteer military. The pay for low ranking military personnel is shameful, though.
Historically, the nation with the most powerful navy has been the most powerful. That could be changing now with air power, but with the Navy you have virtually everything the Air Force has, but it's mobile. Aircraft Carriers, nuclear subs, destroyers, they're all extremely powerful, but mobile. Paired with the MEU, we really don't need to have a huge air force or army.
You have 36,000 military personnel plus support staff in Japan. Hundreds? of international bases. More in secret. Without sounding too much like Ron Paul, those would be a good start.
I think we should have to register our weapons with the UN, and they can decide what is appropriate. Go Blazers
Like I said, the Naval bases should stay, but I think we can easily pull out of a lot of other places. I'm sick of other countries bashing us while we help them. I think we should stop giving financial and military aid to other countries. Let them see what it's like.
Check out this interactive map of foreign aid for 2012. http://foreignassistance.gov/CountryIntro.aspx "United States recently has continued to pump around $50 billion in aid to other countries each year." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/30/us-foreign-aid-by-country_n_1837824.html
