When you hold a hammer, all problems look like nails to you.

[Veggie Meathead]

Our unfettered expansion of military capabilities since WWII has made us addicted to military solutions to every problem in the world. Our population is kept on edge by the military-industrial complex and this crisis mentality is fostered by the incessant din of the media.We continue to ply weapons to other countries on a massive scale.Without these weapons, what would normally be skirmishes among underdeveloped countries become massive wars among well armed opponents.The war between Iran and Iraq could have been less deadly if we had not taken one side and another during the war.

It is this access to the overwhelming military might of this country and its own involvement in many theaters of war that transforms all wars into such tragedies for the less developed nations which do not have the capabilities for recuperation as this country does.

In the end, I believe the the dangers from our military power are compounded by our descent into irrationality through religious fervor and zealotry, a disease we normally associate with islamic fundamentalism. Even islamic Fundamentalism has become dealier by our association with the terrorist nations such as Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and others who profess to be our allies.

It would be a surprise if our addiction to violence and religion based irrationality does not truly produce national madness and make us undertake even more destructive adventures than Iraq. As the saying goes, those whom the Gods wish to destroy, etc.

[ProfessorPlum]

1. I'd say that it isn't "us"

who are addicted to military solutions.

Quite a few of our leaders have understood that military options are just one arrow in our quiver, and have used more effective methods to achieve the US's ends in the past.

However, when you fill the White House with war profiteers, well, let's just say the military option suddenly doesn't seem like the last resort anymore.