Here's why the U.S. owns the planet.

[ladjf]

46. I think that the idea of establishing bases and forces all over the globe is a terrible strategy.

Aside from the astronomical and unsustainable costs, it doesn't even provide the level of protection that is presumed by many.
Beyond that, it makes a political statement that is largely negative. Nor do I think our military budget should be much larger than all other Countries.

Having said that, I will mention a strategy that will be the ultimate goal of all wealthy Countries, which is a deployment of multiple geo-static satellites, armed with thermonuclear missiles that are capable of striking any place on Earth within minutes after launch. The Country that established such a system first might be in the position of "owning the planet". It's a horrible nightmare to contemplate. I pray that it will never happen due to the condition of mutual vulnerability. There is no doubt the several Nations are already working on just such a set of weapons. If the human race is flawed enough to try this weaponry, it will achieve the almost total annihilation of life on Earth quicker than we had previously believed.