The US military being strewn out from one end of the globe to the other is the only thing that saves the world from war. What do you think Putin would do if there was no US military in Europe? What do you think China would do if there was no US military in Japan and S Korea.
I think the next time N Korea or Iran tests one of their new missiles the US should shoot it down, just for shites and giggles. WTH are either of them gonna do about it? Cry to the UN? lol
The Roman empire, the British empire, the French empire, etc. etc. etc.
No empire prevents war.
The only reason there hasn't been WWIII yet is Mutually Assured Destruction.
Any weakening of Mutually Assured Destruction will inevitably lead fairly quickly (within 20 years) to global thermonuclear war.
Fancy words and propaganda won't save the world from the ashes of victory.
Someone didn't see, read, or comprehend my point about North Korea.
The reason to have it is to keep rogue nations with insane leaders who have nuclear weapons from being able to hold 1/3 of the world hostage, demand attention and homage as well as tribute for being benevolent for not already incinerating everyone within range of his weapons. The leader there is actually insane and believes he is a god. He had no problems killing off the rest of his family (i.e. anyone that could have possibly held enough sway to have taken leadership when it was found that he was really insane). He has no problems letting thousands of his citizens starve to death. What makes you think he has any restraint from hitting the nuke button? Again, afterall, he is a god and will transcend this world even if his body is destroyed.
All challengers to empire are demonized by empire.
That's what happened to Saddam, who was 100% a US asset until he became a loose end at the end of the cold war. (Gulf War I)
The US armed him with chemical weapons to fight Iran in the proxy war against the Soviets and then the US was aghast that Saddam "somehow" came across chemical weapons. (Gulf War II)
The threat he posed to empire with his dedollarization effort, trying to start selling oil for Euros instead of dollars, threatening the current Petrodollar system.
First you declaw, then you chop off the head.
That's what happened to Ghaddafi, who got rid of his weapons of mass destruction in a deal with Bush for mutual cooperation and security against terrorism.
The US (As a favor to Britain and France) subsequently sent in their closest allies Al Queda and ISIS to destroy Libya to stop the threat Ghaddafi posed by threatening the African French Currency that is used in North Africa, as well as by the threat to the Petro Dollar when he proposed the switch to a gold dinar. Threats to the Petro Dollar are direct threats to the continued US ability to bill the world for it's expenses by printing the USD.
First you declaw, then you chop off the head.
The second North Korea stops spending the large amount they do on their military defense, the US plans to invade North Korea with South Korean and Japanese backing to carve out the buffer zone between China and US forces in South Korea.
I could go on, but Geopolitical Realpolitik is far too broad for a couple of posts in a tech forum.
The only thing still hindering US plans for global domination is Mutually Assured Destruction, and therefore hindering the onset of World War III.