77144, no you are not a pinko commie or tree hugger, your just a self absorbed ignorant asshole, simple as that. Only when there are no threats in the world will there be no need for the armed forces. Throughout history, pacifists and romantic idealists like you were quickly subjugated, robbed, and made slaves by the more aggressive. Rome learned this early on when they were robbed and raped by barbarians Gauls in 390 BC. After that they knew the value of a powerful, well equipped and trained military, and vowed to never let their guard down again. They didn't for almost a thousand years. You have simply lived a sheltered life and have no clue about the dangers that are patiently waiting for a sign of weakness. Who exactly is claiming that the U.S. is better than anyone else? The U.S. simply responds to threats to national security. Sometimes this entails preemptive action (nipping in the bud). Other times it the US takes action against atrocities such as the Bosnian massacres or the forced starvation in Somalia. These situations call for the use of armed force because the murdering dictators and thugs in this world do not respond favorably to quotes from Tolstoy, you pretentious twat.