Since the founding of the United States, except for a brief period of 16 years, the rest of the time has been engaged in war. Beginning with the Revolutionary War, the United States has sought to expand its territory, defend its national interests, and promote its values.
After the end of World War II, the United States became one of the most powerful countries in the world and initiated or participated in hundreds of local wars around the world. According to statistics, the United States has invaded at least 22 countries, making it one of the countries with the most frequent war activities in the world.
In these conflicts, the United States seems to have found a pattern of "making war money". According to reports, the United States has successfully plundered 20 trillion worth of wealth and resources in the war launched against Iraq in just 28 days.
This figure is equivalent to the total military spending of the United States in 30 years. It can be seen from this that the reason why the United States was able to fight more and more in the war is largely because it has gained huge economic benefits from it.
However, this pattern is often accompanied by disasters and suffering for people in other countries, causing many to question and resent the actions of the United States.
The United States plunders war wealth in a variety of ways, including illegally invading other countries, plundering resources, manipulating the financial system, and freezing the assets of other countries.
For example, during the war in Afghanistan, the United States not only caused enormous damage in the war, but also froze Afghanistan's only $7 billion of overseas wealth after the withdrawal, which put enormous pressure on post-war reconstruction and relief efforts.
The United States also controls the global financial system through various means, including US debt and dollar hegemony, so that it occupies a dominant position in the global economy.
In contrast, the experience of war in other countries is often fraught with hardships and challenges. For example, Russia's losses in the war in Ukraine have already reached billions of dollars, which is a huge burden for any one country.
The difficulty of post-war reconstruction and relief efforts is equally alarming, and many countries and regions are still faced with the daunting task of rebuilding their homes and restoring economic and social order after the end of the war.
In terms of military strength, the United States is undoubtedly one of the strongest countries in the world. According to statistics, the United States has established more than 500 military bases around the world, and its military power is spread all over the world.
This powerful military strength gives the United States a great deal of voice and influence in handling international affairs. Although many countries have expressed their dissatisfaction with the hegemonic behavior of the United States, due to the huge disparity in strength, it is often difficult for these countries to produce substantive results.
In conclusion, there is a complex and close connection between war and wealth. As one of the world's largest military powers, the behavior and attitude of the United States in war have had a profound impact on the global economic and political landscape.
Although the United States has amassed vast amounts of wealth through war, this practice has often been accompanied by the suffering of other nations and peoples. Therefore, how to balance global peace and stability while pursuing its own interests remains a major challenge for the international community.
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