The US is, at the least to an equal extent, also where it is because of its excellent possibilities to have access to a free flow of information and stable not profit motivated institutions that allow that access. This includes libraries.

But if we get rid of libraries, cut art programs, and social programs for the poor; what the hell would the military even be fighting for?

What they've oftentimes fought for since the birth of the country - powerful business interests sometimes masquerading under political campaign rhetoric of "freedom" or "justice." Whether it's over taxation or slavery, economic impetus is the seed for most conflicts in the US and in the 20th century evolved into ideological conflicts that harm US business interests.

You don't build tanks and planes without them. Nuclear bombs without them.

Look at south korea. Plenty of military, no brain.

> Look at south korea. Plenty of military, no brain.

I'm genuinely curious - what did you mean by this?

I think he meant North Korea. But they did build a Nuclear Bomb (or rather got the tech successfully loaned from China)

According to some high-ranking North Korean defectors, they actually built it themselves with no direct assistant from China or Russia -- which explains why they are so crappy. Their nuclear program is still young and poorly funded.

Yes I meant the dictatorship, not the starcraft mothership.

That's why I mentioned intelligence. You need proxy wars, coups, espionage, state-funded terrorism, etc etc in other countries to maintain your power. The US excels at that.