We aren’t the only “Western nation with a real army” anymore. It just seems that way, because we spend disproportionately more than will ever be needed.

I assume you are speaking as an ex marine yourself?

Now that Splinter got canned (and the rest will follow because Kinja is not a worthy commenting system as it is now), what political sites would people suggest? I’m into laughing at Trump’s brain functions, so no RWNJ sites please.

You don't maintain endless war with the equipment you want. You maintain endless war with the equipment you've got. Jesus said that. 

The Marines operate under the Department of the Navy. They are a separate branch ... but not really. Shit’s complicated.

I don’t understand why the US takes the blame for unfavorable events in the middle east. where is EVERYONE ELSE’S military. How did this suddenly become OUR job? The us will send thousands of troops and europe will send a token few dozen special forces ..... I am this close to being in favor of the US going back to…

How many of our 3000 troops are women?

Navy’s Army?

Sadly trump has the majority of the tank and file support, not so much officers but enlisted.

Trumpkins has been bragging about how Saudi Arabia is paying for our support. The US military is just a mercenary force to him, something to be rented out for profit.

What's a former Marine?

Those damn Iranians, moving their country closer to our troops again.

hey man.. you broke it you bought it....and yous sure as fuck broke the middle east

Fuck the Saudis.  Those assholes are our allies in name only.  Let them fend for themselves.  Don’t put American lives on the line for a regime that hates us.

The mechanics are probably worse than the pilots.

As a former Marine I agree with you 100%.

The reason they are there is to be cannon fodder. If Iran kills American troops then Trump will try to become a wartime President by starting a war with Iran. Notice he supports Turkey and did not complain that they shot at American troops; they have a Trump hotel. 

“Peacekeeping is for pussies, we’re here to kick ass!” is about as sophisticated as the current administration and it’s adherents can muster.

I’m interested to see how this meshes with the de-escalation talks that were just wrapped up last week with Iraq and Pakistan acting as mediators. This defensive arms movement seems like typical political maneuvering more than a genuine well thought-out military response. Iran is eager to prise Saudi away from the US…

Just as a macro-thing, our military is built to face conventional threats in one way, and only one way: We have overwhelming firepower, combined with overwhelming logistics, and those two items are multiplied by overwhelming technology.