Aabidano wrote:There's a case to made that the United States is the most dominant world power in all of history
Romans and Mongols likely exceeded by quite a bit, couple ancient Indian empires too. Maybe the Persians too for that matter.
Plus - we couldn't "win" against either China or Russia, or even Iran for that matter. So why are we spending so much for so little return? 20+ years of drawdowns have hobbled our military, you have to have people after all; while pumping more and more $$ into military contractors who rip us off on the supply side.
Oh the U.S. would "win", but the cost would be high. U.S. would steamroll anyone in an all out war but unlike previous wars, the homeland wouldn't go untouched, and of course Russia might manage to launch a nuke or two that hasn't rusted and become unlaunchable. There's no good scenario for war but you are insane if you think another country would match the U.S. in a war, China and Russia included. Have you seen China's army? It's pathetic. Their Navy is even worse.
I disagree with your comment about Romans, Mongols, Indian empires and Persians being more powerful than the Unites States. They were all regional, even the Romans. U.S is the first "world" power.(reference the the number of bases around the world the U.S. has and the U.S. Dollar and economy's impact on the world) I dig the Romans. Big fan, but military and economically, the U.S. since the 80's is without question, the single super power in the world. After that, you can check into the number of U.S. products around the world ranging from high tech to sugar water. Entertainment? U.S. Check the top grossing movies..U.S. U.S. U.S.
All great empires – from the Greek, to the Roman, the Spanish and the British - have at their heart a dominant means of exchange which is very much part of their political and social hegemony. Once upon a time, it was Roman coinage which was the world's pre-eminent currency. In more recent times it was the British pound. Today, it's the US dollar to which international investors flock as a safe haven for their money. Highly liquid and apparently reliable – until recently at least – nothing else comes even remotely close to the greenback's dominant position in the international monetary system.
Things change, but for the last half a century, the United States has been truly badass. The absolute dominance of the U.S. military over any country or next ten countries may be too much for you too grasp, but the dollar is no doubt the currency of the world. Why do you think Saudi Arabia only accepts U.S. currency for oil?
Whether you think it's good or bad, there's no denying U.S. might over the past 50 years.
U.S. Navy unleashes newest weapon: an electromagnetic rail gun that shoots missiles at seven times the speed of sound
Each missile hits with about 32 megajoules of force, when just one megajoule can move a 1-ton object at 100 mph.
Top gun: redefined.
The U.S. Navy's newest weapon, the futuristic rail gun, shoots projectiles over 100 miles at Mach 7 — seven times the speed of sound.
“When it’s fired it goes from zero to 5,000 mph in the span of 1/100th of a second," Capt. Mike Ziv, program manager for NAVSEA PMS 405, told the Daily News.
The Navy has already tested the explosive equipment on land for years but plans to fire up seaside trials in 2016.
"There's not a thing in the sky that's going to survive against that," Rear Adm. Matthew Klunder, the chief of Naval Research, told CBS News.
Rail guns harness electromagnetic energy to launch the projectiles between two conductive rails, experts say.
The Navy's chief engineer, Rear Admiral Bryant Fuller, said these projectiles have about 32 megajoules of force — just one megajoule can move a one-ton object at 100 mph.
Whereas ships can only hold dozens of missiles, they can reportedly carry hundreds of rail gun projectiles.
"Your magazine never runs out, you just keep shooting, and that's compelling," Klunder told Reuters.
At $25,000 a pop, the 23-pound projectiles are much cheaper than normal missiles which can run from $500,000 to $1.5 million.
The research chief said this cost might make combatants think twice before taking on the U.S. military. After all, the rail gun can fire multiple rounds to take down enemy missiles much more affordably.
"You could throw anything at us, frankly, and the fact that we now can shoot a number of these rounds at a very affordable cost, it's my opinion that they don't win." Klunder said.
The rail gun projectiles could help the Navy defend against cruise missiles and ballistic missiles, he added.
For the 2016 trials, the rail gun is scheduled to be mounted on a high-speed vessel called the USNS Millinocket.
Way cheaper and better than the opposition. The United States, who already ridiculously outspends the rest of the world on its military, can now take out enemy missiles at about 1/50th the cost of the opposition.
Yeah, good luck with your one rusty aircraft carrier vs the U.S. and its 20 Carriers w/support fleets with a brand new mega huge carrier class and rail guns (among other things) on the way.
Altogether, what the United States has accomplished is awe inspiring when you combine its scientific, innovation, internet, military and economic power.
There's plenty of "first world problems". Bitch about politics, healthcare, etc. Our president is horrible, and yet that still doesn't stop this juggernaut of a country. Love it or hate it, there's no denying it. Maybe you won't see it because many don't while it's happening, but historians will. Hey, people hated the Romans too but we look back at them and recognize their rule. And now, becoming energy independent, that's one less thing to worry about and makes the Middle East just a bunch of crazy people instead of crazy people with a resource that we need.
Remove your love/hate/jealously/despise/evil/good opinions of the United States from the equation and what are you left with? A powerhouse of a country in military, technology, and economy.
I don't see the U.S. remaining top dog forever but it's been an impressive run and is still going for now. I don't see another country overtaking the U.S. (including China) I see more of a world government happening with the entire globe becoming so intertwined due to technology, that countries won't matter as much.