[dalebert]

lots cheaper than having them used against us.

[Rockingham]

Precisely! And the greater point is that America benefits immensely from our large and capable military establishment and our dominant role in the world. They help to enhance our national security, assure the openness of the world to American trade and finance, and help make the world willing to accept American dollars and to buy and hold our public debt.

In a roundabout way, the world wants American goods and services and our dollars and Treasuries, watches our movies and TV shows, dresses like us, and even tries to copy our manners, values, and practices because doing so helps to align their countries on the same side as the US military and to accrue the benefits of friendship with the US. It is good to be a good country, better to be good and wealthy, and better yet to be good and wealthy and also the most powerful country in the world.

[grania]

Lots cheaper than having them used against us

If the US has to use our weapons to blow up our weapons, if we also blow up the terrorists we created, it's a plan.