[messierhunter]

If that's true, then a) the Pentagon should pay for it, not NASA and b) Constellation wasn't the way to do it.

You can maintain a manned spaceflight capability without the need for a literal military presence. A civilian program would suffice. Our mere presence on the moon and the ability to get there would guarantee that China nor anyone else could develop a military advantage there without our ability to challenge it. Additionally, it would guarantee our ability to launch a mission to any potentially threatening rocks so that we wouldn't have to leave it up to the Russians to do.

[NonZeroSum]

It is not a necessary condition for us to do Apollo again to keep the Chinese from owning the moon.