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Current Events » in reply to Re: Americans spend more on military than any country in the world

And damned lucky for the rest of the world
Tom Brosz — (archived)

At the risk of pointing out the obvious, America pretty much singlehandedly restrained the Soviet Union, which would otherwise have eaten Europe like an anaconda chowing down on a pig. And never mind who did the heavy lifting beating the crap out of Japan and Germany.

A thought experiment: in 1935 America discovers how to surround our nation with an impenetrable force field. Like good libertarians, we decide to Mind Our Own Business and stay out of world conflicts. Project history from that point on:

Hitler chews up Europe, and finally wears down Britain and gobbles it up too. North Africa falls. Like any pair of thugs with the same ideas, I suppose Stalin and Hitler have their falling out anyway, and start going after each other like the Kilkenny Cats. How long does this go on? Who knows? What's left of Europe afterwards? Who knows? Maybe eventually one will win. Maybe a deal will be struck. Maybe Europe gets finally divided up between tyrannies. Stalin, who likes Jews about as much as Hitler does, likes Adolph's little "work makes you free" camp idea, and adopts it.

Who eventually goes after China? A good question...probably Stalin from sheer proximity. That little fracas will go on for years, and expend nearly a billion lives. Of course, then they run up against Japan...

All this is without nuclear weapons in the bargain. Decades of conquest and warfare, a world ruled by tyrannies, and a generation of constant slaughter. While America sits insulated in its impenetrable cocoon.

Not too cool, huh? I'm sure a historical expert could come up with a more detailed, accurate, and creative alternative history, but I would venture that the result--death and misery for billions--would be the same.

Most of the planet should drop to its knees and thank the deity of their selection that the U.S. has been less than frugal with their military spending.

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