shouldn't we be demanding tribute from our vassal states for providing protection from their barbarian neighbors? Of the $61 billion cost of the Gulf War, $54 billion was offset by contributions of other members in the Coalition. Two-thirds of the $54 billion was provided by the Gulf States ($36 billion) with the remaining one-third mostly provided by Japan and Germany ($16 billion).
Not that there's anything wrong with that, I hasten to add.
Could you please show us where the US forced their hands for those payments to be made? Colonies are not asked to contribute, they are coerced. Great Britain backed up their monetary demands and constraints on their colonies with military threats. What does the US use as its 'carrot'?