Your conclusion on the best course of action is well reasoned and logical, and one that makes the most sense for the US in terms of geopolitics, national security, finances etc. This is not how the US operates. It acts for the benefit of its special interests, found in the defense and intelligence industrial complexes. There is no strategic goal to attain in these campaigns except for endless war and profits. Destroying the secular Iraqi state during Gulf War II made zero strategic sense, as it had been a balancing force against the Iranians. For the locals, I'm sure the US today seems like an ogre that aimlessly stumbles around with overwhelming might, wrecking havoc in its path.
... which then becomes a gigantic drain on society...
Which is precisely the point. It's been long since any consideration to societal benefit was taken when it comes to the military-intelligence-police-prison-media-industrial-complex. At this point, it serves no other purpose than to enrich our oligarchs.
It's fucking idiotic, man.
Yes, from a societal point of view. But it is also profitable, for a select few. As a society, rather than accepting what are natural human behaviors and affording care to minimize societal detriments, we choose to reward people that take advantage of these behaviors and exploit weakness in men.
Profit at all costs, especially when they befall society as a whole rather than your own bottom line.
War Is A Racket is in need of a couple of addenda.
Slashdot Mirror
Your conclusion on the best course of action is well reasoned and logical, and one that makes the most sense for the US in terms of geopolitics, national security, finances etc. This is not how the US operates. It acts for the benefit of its special interests, found in the defense and intelligence industrial complexes. There is no strategic goal to attain in these campaigns except for endless war and profits. Destroying the secular Iraqi state during Gulf War II made zero strategic sense, as it had been a balancing force against the Iranians. For the locals, I'm sure the US today seems like an ogre that aimlessly stumbles around with overwhelming might, wrecking havoc in its path.
... which then becomes a gigantic drain on society ...
Which is precisely the point. It's been long since any consideration to societal benefit was taken when it comes to the military-intelligence-police-prison-media-industrial-complex. At this point, it serves no other purpose than to enrich our oligarchs.
It's fucking idiotic, man.
Yes, from a societal point of view. But it is also profitable, for a select few. As a society, rather than accepting what are natural human behaviors and affording care to minimize societal detriments, we choose to reward people that take advantage of these behaviors and exploit weakness in men.
Profit at all costs, especially when they befall society as a whole rather than your own bottom line.
War Is A Racket is in need of a couple of addenda.