[djmcmath]

Japan, Israel, et al have saved a fortune in defense spending by riding under the US umbrella. Citing countries that do not routinely send forces abroad to protect other people's rights is a comparing apples to oranges.

You could argue that it is unnecessary to protect other countries' democracies -- and you might be right. You could also argue that it's more important to spend that money in our own country, fixing our own democracy, rather than elsewhere -- and again, you might be right.

(shrug) Whatever.

Dan