zlacker

> What does the US give up not protecting the rest of the world?

The number of lives we’d lose in the next world war. The end of Pax Americana won’t be sweet.

That said, I agree there should be more thought as to the marginal benefit of the 800th base.

>>JumpCr+(OP)
The marginal benefit of the so-called 800th base is giving planners and operations officers options in a crisis. The more places you either have your own infrastructure or access agreements or leases with a host country, the more you can a) disperse your force and complicate targeting when on the defensive and b) have multiple avenues of approach when on the offensive.

If the enemy knows all your forces have to flow into theater via airlift landing at Krablakistan Air Base in Elbonia, they're going to make war plans involving targeting your transports and pounding the living shit out of Krablakistan Air Base with air strikes and/or ballistic missiles. And beforehand, they'll do their level best to sow discord between your government and the Elbonians to the point they reconsider your access to their base in a crisis.

>>JumpCr+(OP)
> The end of Pax Americana won’t be sweet.

This.

Plus:

  - America gets soft power in return, countries keep American interests in eye too. This requires understanding the concept of win-win versus the you lose-I win mentality. 


  - Economic contraction. There is not much growth and prosperity in a world of feuding dictatorships. Incentives in those systems are opposite to global well fare. 

For American oligarchs, like for their Russian counter parts, there might be some insane short-term opportunities. Chances for the sharks, not for you though. You are fish.