Top 10 Militaries in the World, ranked for 2015

[Steelgrave]

No real surprises here but the thumbnail commentaries are interesting. FYI it in no way resembles an in-depth look, it's more fast food than steak.

http://www.wearethemighty.com/top-10-militaries-world-ranked-2015-05

[Staggerwing]

After reading that^, I ran across this on the same site:

http://www.wearethemighty.com/rangerup-art15-range-15-movie-2015-05

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/range-15-movie

We've personally pushed all in on this.  We aren't wealthy people, but we've sunk every dime we can sink into this movie, and this is by far the biggest project any of us have ever taken on.  We can't finish this, and give Hollywood the middle finger, without you.

If we raise $325k we can make this movie, and that will be awesome.

If we can raise more, though, we can chase our dream of having Carl Weathers charging forward on a white stallion against the enemy horde, or James Van Der Beek playing Russian Roulette Double Dutch, or really anything that involves either Kate Upton, Emma Stone, or Mila Kunis.  Anything.  Seriously, ladies.  Call us.

Bottom Line: The more we raise, the more badass your movie becomes.

Bigger explosions.

Crazy special effects.

Non-stop Act of Valor style knee slide shooting.

Forget about 3.  That's not happening.

Hot chicks.

Even bigger explosions.

More badass celebrity cameos.

Viper semen.

Did we mention hot chicks?

:o

[Steelgrave]

New Mexico?   ;D

[Staggerwing]

Nah, just a placeholder while I edited my post.

[Steelgrave]

Thanks, now I look even more like an idiot, lol   ::)


I don't know how seriously to take such a list or not, but my big surprise was Germany. I really thought they had a little more heft than that.

[MetalDog]

Their biggest drawback, according to the article, is oil.  Russia has it and Germany would most likely face Russia.  But what if Germany got America and her allies backing?  If we supplied the oil, there's no telling what would happen!

[Steelgrave]

Germany....lack of oil....Russian oil fields.  Where have I heard that before? Sounds like deja vu all over again 

[LongBlade]

Germany....lack of oil....Russian oil fields.  Where have I heard that before? Sounds like deja vu all over again 

No kidding.

[Gusington]

History repeats and rhymes?

[GDS_Starfury]

Thanks, now I look even more like an idiot, lol   ::)


I don't know how seriously to take such a list or not, but my big surprise was Germany. I really thought they had a little more heft than that.

If you want to be really depressed you can compare the 1985 German TOE to todays.

[Centurion40]

When I read these kinds of lists, I always mentally compare Pax Americana to Pax Britannia.  Then I cannot help but wonder why the American military machine is so very huge.

Pax Britannia covered an empire that spanned the globe, from New Zealand to Canada; from Scotland to South Africa, and everywhere in-between.  But Pax Americana only covers a territory that spans from Hawaii to Puerto Rico (tossing in a couple of warm Pacific islands like Guam and Samoa); from Alaska to the USVI.  The vast majority of land owned by the British Empire existed outside of the British Isles (in places like India, Canada, and Australia); whereas the vast majority of American lands exist in the home nation of the US of A.  So why a military that needs a budget larger than the combined total of the other 9 of the top 10?  Is it to keep those unruly subjects in Guam in line?  Perhaps there is a threatening neighbour, so the military is staged at the borders to fend-off an attack (from Canada or Mexico)?  I can understand why India ranks #4; it has a huge population and it shares borders with potential hostile neighbours, such as Pakistan, China.  It also has a piece of disputed territory that physically touches Afghanistan.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy living under the protection of Pax Americana.  But the only reason that I can imagine (on the spot as I type this post) is that American military exists to defend its economic interests, which have nothing to do with territory any more.  And I am having a bit of a tough time wrapping my head around that.

[jejo68]

When I read these kinds of lists, I always mentally compare Pax Americana to Pax Britannia.  Then I cannot help but wonder why the American military machine is so very huge.

Pax Britannia covered an empire that spanned the globe, from New Zealand to Canada; from Scotland to South Africa, and everywhere in-between.  But Pax Americana only covers a territory that spans from Hawaii to Puerto Rico (tossing in a couple of warm Pacific islands like Guam and Samoa); from Alaska to the USVI.  The vast majority of land owned by the British Empire existed outside of the British Isles (in places like India, Canada, and Australia); whereas the vast majority of American lands exist in the home nation of the US of A.  So why a military that needs a budget larger than the combined total of the other 9 of the top 10?  Is it to keep those unruly subjects in Guam in line?  Perhaps there is a threatening neighbour, so the military is staged at the borders to fend-off an attack (from Canada or Mexico)?  I can understand why India ranks #4; it has a huge population and it shares borders with potential hostile neighbours, such as Pakistan, China.  It also has a piece of disputed territory that physically touches Afghanistan.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy living under the protection of Pax Americana.  But the only reason that I can imagine (on the spot as I type this post) is that American military exists to defend its economic interests, which have nothing to do with territory any more.  And I am having a bit of a tough time wrapping my head around that.

Well under Pax Britania, most other European nations spend alot of Money on the military also. and the British were very good at pitching rivals against each others.

[GDS_Starfury]

Im kind of wondering why Israel isnt on the list.

[Centurion40]

Yeah, good question.

I would think that their military spending would eclipse Turkey's.

[GDS_Starfury]

not so much spending as ability and equipment.