"Jay Honeck" wrote in message
ups.com...
I don't doubt the US military budget was huge during the cold war, but
so was ours. And so was the Soviet Union's BTW. I guess that's the
price you pay for wanting to be a super power. When you want to project
military power to all corners of the globe, have nuclear submarines and
air craft carriers roam the world oceans, have troops stand by for the
odd invasion here and there, it costs lots of money. The US didn't do
all that out of kindness, but for selfish reasons, namely to maintain
their superpower status. Don't portrait it as a gift please. The
benefit was mutual.

Really? What benefit did the US gain by saving/protecting Europe?
I'd be interested in hearing your take on this matter, because I see
very little return on our investment.

Not only was it expensive in dollars and lives lost in accidents, but
Europe, as many Europeans admit, lot the ability and nerve to defend itself.