While I might, with much revision, agree to some of what you have to say... what is your solution? We do, indeed, live in a dangerous world, the United States is in the position we are in... what then to do?
Casting aspersions are easy, they only show mess on the other guy... what is the Risky Thicket independent view of how we should shoulder, or run away, or any dot on the spectrum between the two, from where we are right now in world history?
We don't have enough space and I don't have enough time to list everything, but thank you for asking.
1. Toss the War Powers Act. Only Congress can declare war. Invading foreign lands are acts of war. Droning the people of other nations are acts of war. The point is that, per the Constitution only Congress can declare war. For various self-serving reasons Congress and the White House have subverted the Constitution for decades.
That must end.
2. Women should be required to register for Selective Service. (Actually,
I favor conscription with NO, ZERO, exemptions for the sons and daughters of the rich and powerful. The point being war SHOULD BE a national sacrifice, currently it is not. If you want to go to war you must know that you will likely sacrifice and that the sacrifice may be great.)
3. War taxes. I don't have specifics but corporations should not make huge profits as a result of armed conflict. Doing so and "owning" many members of Congress ensures a constant state of war. Killing people should not be good for business.
4. The US should leave Afghanistan, Iraq and North Africa soonest. We have no business there. Let the region deal with the region. Let the region deal with Iran. Israel is not an American state. We give them more support than we give Puerto Rico. If Israel didn't have our promised physical and fiscal support they would be more encouraged to be a better neighbor in their regional community. No matter, we cannot have Israel's safety dictate US policy. The US needs to leave the region.
If the US wants to sacrifice for Israel then everyone needs to face the reality of sacrifice. It must be palpable. See number 2.
5. Declarations of war - by Congress - must have specific, clearly defined reasons. Iraq and Afghanistan are perfect examples of that. You cannot know when to leave if you don't have a realistic and well defined mission. The "War on Terror" is nothing more than marketing bull**** that ensures the perpetuation of America's involvement in armed conflict.
6. Honor the nation's commitment to veterans. No more feel good yellow ribbon, flag waving, support the troops, invite a veteran to stand and wave at half-time horse sh*t, make the home folk feel good, garbage. In the consideration of war, realistic, long term costs related to veterans must be considered and/or debated in Congress openly and up front.
The American People must know the long term costs of honoring their commitments to veterans and their families. Veterans deserve first rate assistance and services. Those things should be
guaranteed BEFORE sending American men and women into the breech. Costs must be realistic and taxes must be agreed upon and levied as a consequence of declaring war.
These are a few things off the top of my head. Most if not all of the above will not/would not be popular because they
require real sacrifice for all Americans. And that is the over arching point. War is just too damned easy for most Americans.