That may have been true 50 years ago, but not now. The future of military defense is the future of technology: genomics, information systems, robotics, self driving and flying vehicles, nanotechnology.
A constant investment in technical capabilities and human capabilities is needed to defend against future threats from aggressive actors.
Those investments require money from tax payers.
Re:Confessions of a Congressman
by frostmatthew on Saturday February 07, 2015 @09:59AM
(#9014133)
> Those investments require money from tax payers.
Congress is more interested in "investing" in tanks the Army doesn't want[1] than flying vehicles and nanotechnology.
[1] http://www.military.com/daily-news/2014/12/18/congress-again...
Yes, one challenge for the military is educating congress and the American people on new emerging threats so new defense products can be researched, developed, and funded.
The global military environment is dynamic and evolving and our defense plans need to reflect that reality.
If the goal is simply "defend ourselves", a strong navy is all the US needs, plus a few nukes to stay in the nuke club. Any aggressor with a large enough army and navy to take on the US would, again, be seen coming a mile away.