• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Infographic: The size and reach of the United States military

yllus

yllus

Elite Member & Lifer
This is sort of random, but I was looking at infographics my daily paper has done in the past and came across this one which graphically depicts the size and reach of the United States military. It's really rather impressive. You'll need to click the yellow bar to see the full size image, or click here to see it in a new browser tab.

fo1029_usbases12001.jpg
 
Yup and we wonder why our military budget is 700billion + We are basically out fighting across the planet attacking or defending people. It costs a lot of money to fight the worlds wars.
 
I am shocked, as I feel naked and undefended. Just one look at that map is all in takes, its quite clear the US military is unable to control a whole continent called Antarctica.

But in good recent news, we are progressing in our satellite surveillance and can do a good census of the Gathering army of about to be invading Penguins.

The Penguin threat was well documented by Arthur Hopper in the late 1960's, in a book called Love everyone but Penguins.

So double and triple the defense budget.
 
700 billion is massive!

They really need to cut down on the military budget. Maybe if they reduce it to only 200 billion and save 500 billion onto other things.. the economy can get better.
 
i think it should be reduced a bit, but a global presence is nice to have. and you're exposing 500k+ people to other cultures and bringing stuff back.


for some reason i assumed russia had something similar, but nope. they've got clusters of bases in former soviet republics and a single naval base in syria.
 
PottedMeat said:
i think it should be reduced a bit, but a global presence is nice to have. and you're exposing 500k+ people to other cultures and bringing stuff back.
Click to expand...

I'd say "nice to have" makes sense when you're running a surplus, not when you have massive deficits.

We can't afford to be Team America World Police unless we start collecting funding from the rest of the world to cover the cost.

We need massive cuts in military spending overseas, especially if we want to keep the funding for things like new fighters.
 
DaveSimmons said:
I like Rammstein as much as the next metal fan, but why do my tax dollars need to fund 50,000 US soldiers to defend them?
Click to expand...

Because 2 World Wars made us somewhat wary regarding them rearming in a big way? That said I think the real reason we have such a large presence in Europe so long after WWII ended is more a relic of the Cold War than WWII itself.
 
Neat graph but I am not sure about its accuracy.

AF bases in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Philippines? Marine base in Malaysia? That's new to me.
 
Military is just another welfare system these days. Its a totally unproductive (actually destructive) activity that gives inner city and broke rural ppl jobs. Hides under guise of national security so it's not going anywhere. Well..until we go broke.
 
Zebo said:
All you need is one of those for "defense" and they are under 100 ft of epoxy concrete manning silos.
Click to expand...

Its not that simple, but even if you just had one, it would still cost nearly as much as five. Not sure how manning a silo qualifies for defense either.
 
Sorry, there is no reason why defending our freedom of speech requires keeping 50,000 troops in Germany in 2012.

It's a false dilemma to imply the choices are $700 billion a year or being conquered by someone.
 
xBiffx said:
Its not that simple, but even if you just had one, it would still cost nearly as much as five. Not sure how manning a silo qualifies for defense either.
Click to expand...

Would you ever attack me if you knew it was insta death?
 
Zebo said:
Would you ever attack me if you knew it was insta death?
Click to expand...

Ask al-Qaeda. You really think we are ever going to push the button? Do you really think that is even a deterrent anymore? Again, I ask the question, how is that defense? Oh right, because total destruction is the only defense needed.
 
DaveSimmons said:
So you agree that we don't need to be spending tens or hundreds of billions to staff bases overseas? Good.
Click to expand...

Nope, but what is the point of have a right to free speech or anything else if you aren't alive or able to execute it. If you really need someone to explain to you how the military helps to ensure the continued existence of this nation then you are hopeless.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top