The United States boasts hundreds of military bases around the world, perhaps even thousands, constituting a planetary military deployment of a sort never before seen in history. Yet no one knows exactly how many. Everywhere it has a military base, the U.S. is able to swing the necessary political, economic and coercive power to impose its will. But as the U.S. economy shrinks, so will inevitably its empire of bases and its shadowy military footprint, predicts Nick Turse.It is precisely these arsenals of violence to enforce their demands on the rest of the world that informs the arrogant policies of the US and international ruling class of capitalists. Should their organs of propaganda, methods of co-optation, loans and "foreign aid" fail to sustain their policies, they are ready to use violence to enforce their rule as they are currently demonstrating in Afghanistan/Pakistan. This dependence upon violence to have their way is also a weakness because they depend upon the sons and daughters of working people to use these weapons.
The cost of establishing and maintain these bases must be astronomical, and thus must be hidden from view--not even discussed as an issue in mainstream media. The many cutbacks in education, Social Security, welfare, and public services are needed to sustain these bases and the power of the ruling class.
