There is no need for a defense budget to be 4% in order for a country to be serious about defense. And the main reason why Taiwan doesn't buy a given weapon system is because China bullies people into not selling it to Taiwan. It would hardly be fair to penalize them for China's aggression against them. Taiwan will be fighting right alongside us. Stealth cruise missiles are not an easy target at all. And they are an even harder target when a large number of them strike at the same time, from a dozen different directions at once.
No Americans were killed in Afghanistan in the last year prior to the 13 killed during our withdrawal. Not much of an ongoing war.
Tens of thousands killed and wounded: "Casualties and losses Afghan security forces: 67,558–70,558+ killed[59][60] Northern Alliance: 200 killed[61][62][63][64][65] Coalition: Dead: 3,576 United States: 2,420 United Kingdom: 456[66] Canada: 159 France: 89 Germany: 62 Italy: 53 Others: 337 Wounded: 22,773 United States: 19,950[67] United Kingdom: 2,188[68] Canada: 635[69] Contractors Dead: 3,937[70][71] Wounded: 15,000+[70][71] Total killed: 73,295+ Taliban insurgents: 52,893+ killed[72][59](2,000+ al-Qaedafighters)[55] ISIL–KP: 2,400+ killed[33] Civilians killed: 46,319[72] Total killed: 176,206 (per Brown University)[73] 212,191+ (per UCDP)[74]" Wiki Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan = lost wars What specifically did the American people gain from any of the wars you describe?
I think he was suggesting that the US would be the one that was willing to pursue the limited war. I too think the US response will have limits. For example, we will not conduct a land invasion of China to try to capture Beijing. But our stealth bombers will certainly be pummeling China from the air. And Chinese trade will be blockaded from traveling over the oceans.
Scroll back. This is the list of "accomplishments" I as reacting to: "We prevented South Korea from being destroyed. The military had done a good job of preventing South Vietnam from being destroyed, but then leftist politicians betrayed South Vietnam and cut off their support. We prevented Kuwait from being destroyed. We took down Saddam Hussein. We helped the EU take down Muammar Gaddafi. The military was doing a good job of preventing the Republic of Afghanistan from being destroyed until leftist politicians betrayed Afghanistan and ordered our military home."TG IMO, that is not a list of accomplishments or benefits for America and its people.
Korean War's objective was to maintain the security of Soth Korea.... MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. We never lost a single significant battle in Vietnam. Military victory, defeat accomplished by anti-American protesters on Main Street Iraq? Sadaam gone... ISIS strongpoints like Mosul eliminated... MISSION ACCOMPLISHED Afghanistan? Defeat provided by the cowardly, inept Biden.
Or San Antonio. When the Taliban killed 2 500 Americans, Americans killed 350 000 Americans during the same time frame.
The ongoing US commitment to the Afghan War had reached $6.5 Trillion when our troops finally managed to get out. The American people will still be paying for this lost war at least until 2050.
Sounds like a one year budget for Democrat freebies ... education, medical care, housing, plus $450,000 for every illegal.
Almost as much as Democrats spending on socialist freebies, even for illegals. The difference is that Dems will keep it going and going and going without end.
How did preserving the security of South Korea benefit America and America's people? How is winning every battle in Vietnam and losing the war benefit American and America's people? How did removing Saddam benefit America and America's people? Did ISIS exist while Saddam was ruling Iraq? Thanks for admitting the the USG lost the Afghan War after 20 years of warfare. IMO, opposition to another USG military adventure under current military and political leadership, military doctrine and rules of engagement will be unprecedented. The politicians who support the next military/industrial boondoggle will be the first casualties as soon as voters get an opportunity to retaliate.
So when Russia invades Ukraine, we should offer them Florida to stop? When China Invades Taiwan we should give them California to cease firing? Perhaps we should give Illinois to Iran as a matter of prevention? Oh... and the cartels... we should give New Jersey to the cartels as a peace offering for them to stop importing drugs?
Which assumes that Taiwan and Ukraine cannot deter an invasion without America going to war with them.
It doesn't matter--the economy was going to screw up because people stopped spending in "places with faces" to mitigate their risk of catching covid.
I have a feeling China is getting a lot of mileage out of the threats. They want to rule the world, not blow it up.
Russia versus Ukraine? China versus Taiwan? Without US intervention those conflicts would be like Jeffrey Dahlmer versus Baby Huey.
