Why not cut the military?

The Republicans are loath to cut the military budget. The U.S. already spends about as much on so-called defense as the rest of the world combined. I find it difficult to imagine what more we need.

Even the assessment of the costs of war in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya include materiel replacement costs for items we don't necessarily need to replace. We have a lot of weapons stockpiled.

Military spending is not a job driver. Weapons are capital-intensive. That means they are constructed by computer-aided design (CAD) and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM). Even the materiel is as likely to be an epoxy-base composite as it is to be steel.

And, when all is said and done, the Pacific and Atlantic oceans make it difficult to invade the U.S., more difficult to control invaded territory, and for all practical purposes impossible for a victor to claim and carry away any spoils.

Yes, terrorism is a threat. But it's not one that more B-1 bombers will allay. We'd do better fighting terrorism by providing clean water for the world.

THINK nonviolence. Talk up nonviolence. Make it a prevailing idea.