Foreign affairs, like perpetual war? Perpetual police actions around the world? Wasting American lives overseas when it serves no purpose?
I think the purpose it serves is to let these elitist flag patrol military hierarchy pad their resumes so that they can draw down higher retirements — then go on to either “give back to the people” through public service or to impart their vast knowledge to some think tank which rips off the government.
I was talking to a fellow at a New Years Eve party tonight who revealed himself to be a never-Trumper neocon. On the topic of Syria he said "Most Americans don't get it, but Mattis did. America has to throw it's weight around occasionally, even if there is no good reason for it or the reasons are made up. The world relies on us to show we can and will do this, and our own prosperity relies on the world knowing that."
I told him that he was right. "most Americans" don't understand how endless war is a good and necessary thing. That includes me.