I don't like war, probably more because the resources wasted than the direct harm inflicted. The sufering from war is as far as I know negligible ...
The seeming paradox of military expense being inversely correlated to suffering in war is resolved once you understand the utility of deterrence. By spending a lot of money and sweat we avoid a lot of bloodshed. A side benefit of readiness is the ability to dispatch enemies whose psychology resists deterrence.
Unless your home village is under attack with absolutely no diplomatic avenues available
9/11
The only reason the terrorists aren't doing a very good job killing us right now is that we're doing such a good job of killing them.
Volunteering to do the grisly job of getting them before they get us is both brave and sensible. It is an act not so much of desperation as of understanding the desperation of our situation: kill or be killed.
what is much more likely however is someon who is seeking personal glory and social status
Parents will reliably kill to protect their children; children will often kill to protect their siblings and parents. You've never had to protect anyone you loved, have you?
the last time the US military defended the US was about 1863 ish
You mean except for 9/11 and Pearl Harbor.
What use is an aircraft carrier in counter insurgency/ counter piracy?
You're British and you don't know why you need aircraft carriers?
The Royal Navy single-handedly won the Falkland Islands war. It was only the Royal Navy's ability to project power that enabled Britain to prevail (that and Margaret Thatcher). Victory in the Falklands also re-established the credibility of Britain's military deterrent.
Argentina continues to rattle the sabre, making demands for everything from reparations to territory. Without aircraft carriers to defend your realm those impotent demands would turn into foreign boots on British citizens' throats faster than you could say "Galtieri".
I know it's expensive, but you need it, so learn to enjoy the peace that comes from readiness for war. And visit the Falklands someday.
Proper protection from terrorism is having an educated security force at checkpoints and regulations on components that could be used to produce explosives.
Until that magic day comes staying proactive is our best option. As long as the terrorists have U.S. Marines and Predator drones breathing down their necks at home they're going to have great difficulty executing more bombings and hijackings on U.S. soil.
By the American constitution and The Geneva Convention the American Army is already in the wrong.
Explain your legal reasoning.
Continuation of the war is only making it worse, and increases the chances of terrorism.
Ending the war prematurely increases the severity of terrorism. We don't want the terrorists to have the luxury of planning and preparing attacks unmolested.
Back to the wall, no way out.
9/11
We know what they'll do to us if we ever relax our grip on their throats. That makes us just as ruthless. If you see that as an overriding advantage you should look at the footage of Americans leaping from the windows of the burning buildings on 9/11. Our soldiers are out there to try to prevent that from happening again.
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