Here is where your lack of military experience AND careful study of military history is obvious...At least to me, anyway.
We heard enough of the derisive phrase 'a solution in search of a problem', no? But in defense of nation and country, it is not a negative but a positive that we, as much as possible, devise means and tactics to anticipate, counter, and hopefully prevail over other means and tactics that could mean the end of nation and country. It is not enough, as military history have shown, that a geographically large country is sufficient to deter an adversary. For example -- North America, less the region controlled by the newly independent United States, was far larger than said new nation-state. Care to guess who conquered this far larger territory? Care to guess how? In military affairs, particularly wars, it is good to have at one's disposal as many 'solutions' as possible lest we find ourselves in the predicament as that of not having a condom -- better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
Ohhhh please Gambit , don't be such a frikin "patriot" figure, will you?
At one point or the other even you must realise that comments like mine (even if you cannot fathom their foundations) are bound to pop up.
Seriously you want to tell me that in your mind US defence planning and spending make sense ?
What is this mambo jumbo you are telling me -have it and not need it rather than need it and not have it?? -
What is this the prom night granpa advice ?
Gambit, one unquestionable fact (beyond politics or motives about wars) is that the US has not needed it's hi-tech arsenal so far.
That makes me critical (and I dish out some irony here and there) about the spending and pushing further attitude.
I don't know how that makes you proud and not concerned, really it's beyond me.
I may come off as someone who has no respect for US tech, but trust me I am not.
I absolutely swear on the name of most front line tech the US has produced.
and in chronological order,
The Fletchers, the F84s,the F5s the F4s -talk about an awesome plane-,the amazing A-7, the M113,the Adams,standard battlefield radios, the 1911 (still was my favorite ,even after the berettas were introduced), the amazing 50cal. The M-14,the F16s,! just to name a few.
What I do have a problem with, is journeys down la-la land.
Too many promises that make no sense founded on more no-sense reasons.
You (americans) seem to believe the greatest achievement so far was that the US came out of the cold war intact. And even more dangerously you account that fact on the US military spending the USSR couldn't keep up with.
In my book this shows a lack of understanding of the basic socio-political structures inside the USSR that played the paramount role in its collapse. To be honest the USSR had an expiry date from day one.
the US military spending -if ever a reason- was only a minute part.
More to my point- and a straight answer to the bulk of your comment, and I really really really apologise for what i am about to say -I would really prefer to avoid saying it-, as I know how sensitive americans are about it: a certain terrorist attack a few years back demonstrated the misplaced efforts of the US military to achieve a technological superiority understood and required only by them, to fight enemies that do not exist, and there is no likelihood that they will exist in the future.
as far as my military exp. goes, i have a long military service and experience, this comment shows your lack of understanding of who you are talking with. In my country aside of all other things, it is required by law!!!
The fact that I have a military exp, doesn't mean I must agree with you, or the doctrines that you do.
Different schools, different principles, I'd like to think you are not so narrow minded and have an one track brain that you would believe otherwise. Don't prove me wrong.