Subject: Re: Remember Afghanstan!
The only solution I can see is to shrink our military by half. Too bad the politicians will never allow it.

The military doubles as a jobs program. Not only people in uniform, but all the industries and contractors that support them with weapons and materiel. That's mostly why Congress won't allow it, because it will impact the districts of dozens of congresscritters. That is, perhaps, by design of the "military industrial complex".

Also, I'm not sure shrinking our military is a good idea. China is increasingly bellicose, and threatening a treaty ally. We have to be able to respond. Russia is saber-rattling about NATO, and we have to be able to respond there, too (again, a treaty...).

On some levels it is annoying, but we really are the only ones that can do it.