SkyezOpen@lemmy.world 8 months ago
It’s a fairly recent development. It was created as the department of war by Washington and remained that until 1947 where it split into the departments of the air force and army, joining the already existing department of the navy, which together made up the national military establishment (NME), which was renamed 2 years later to the DOD.
Oddly enough, this also coincides with the time when the US military was more explicitly about offence rather than defense. After the Revolution, people mistrusted the federal government having a large standing army. The army was raised up in time of war, and everyone went home when it was over.
Post-WW2 was the first time the US kept a large army in “peace”. Been that way ever since.
defence
offense
Make up your mind!
Claiming the US was not immensely offensive before WW2 is laughable
Even in the 19th century when they colonised plenty countries and took control from from Britain or Spain,…
And this in the most brutal way.
It was the period where they gained the most land and influence.
“the people” or their opinion has nothing to do with it and they could’t give a shit about what they mistrust or not.
The US didn’t have a large standing military or budget for it. This matters.
What are you trying to say?
In the 1860’s they surpassed the size of the British navy.
And in case you didn’t know leeching of colonies and slaves is a lucrative.
Bloomcole@lemmy.world 8 months ago
Still the work of Edward Bernays and others, the father of modern propaganda.