How about Iran? Seriously. Now, consider which steps would be needed to be able to do that. THIS is how a real great power thinks.
Seriously. Now, consider which steps would be needed to be able to do that.
Well, we would have to invade and conquer Iran, while simultaneously neutralizing Russia (which would, under the terms of the 1922 Iranian-Soviet Treaty of Friendship, have the right to enter Iranian territory "in defense of Iran," which would, in this case, translate into a legal right to grab the Iranian oilfields.
We would have to deal with a very hostile populace (they have no real love of the mullahs, but they would most likely hate the idea of being occupied by infidel Auslander even more) across a rather large country.
To deal with both threats will require a significantly larger Army.
So when would you enlist? Would you do so right now as a matter of patriotic fervor? Or do you view yourself as being "too valuable" to put on a helmet and shoulder a rifle?
Generally, I've never seen the ones most loudly gung-ho for a war actually enlisting for same--at best, they accept a draft call-up instead of bugging out for Canada or proclaiming that they're gay.