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The US Armed Forces are responsible for countless atrocities and war crimes throughout their entire existence (''see: Category:Atrocities committed by the United States'' below). In the 19th century, they massacred indigenous Native Americans as the US expanded westward. They have massacred civilians during their wars of aggression against Korea, Vietnam and Iraq, and are also the only military that has used nuclear weapons in warfare.<ref>{{Web citation|url=https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/no-first-use-and-nuclear-weapons|title=‘No First Use’ and Nuclear Weapons|quote=The United States has considered but has never declared an NFU policy and remains the only country to have ever used nuclear weapons in war—twice against Japan, in 1945.}}</ref> These, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, were entirely unnecessary, as Japan was already in the process of negotiating a surrender. Although the US government has repeatedly attempted to cover up the atrocities committed by its military, many of them have been exposed by the international media. Notable examples include the [[Wounded Knee Massacre|Wounded Knee massacre]] against the [[Lakota people]], the [[No Gun Ri massacre]] in Korea, the [[Mỹ Lai massacre]] in Vietnam, and the torture and abuse of prisoners in the [[Abu Ghraib|Abu Ghraib Prison]] in Iraq.
The US Armed Forces are responsible for countless atrocities and war crimes throughout their entire existence (''see: Category:Atrocities committed by the United States'' below). In the 19th century, they massacred indigenous Native Americans as the US expanded westward. They have massacred civilians during their wars of aggression against Korea, Vietnam and Iraq, and are also the only military that has used nuclear weapons in warfare.<ref>{{Web citation|url=https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/no-first-use-and-nuclear-weapons|title=‘No First Use’ and Nuclear Weapons|quote=The United States has considered but has never declared an NFU policy and remains the only country to have ever used nuclear weapons in war—twice against Japan, in 1945.}}</ref> These, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, were entirely unnecessary, as Japan was already in the process of negotiating a surrender. Although the US government has repeatedly attempted to cover up the atrocities committed by its military, many of them have been exposed by the international media. Notable examples include the [[Wounded Knee Massacre|Wounded Knee massacre]] against the [[Lakota people]], the [[No Gun Ri massacre]] in Korea, the [[Mỹ Lai massacre]] in Vietnam, and the torture and abuse of prisoners in the [[Abu Ghraib|Abu Ghraib Prison]] in Iraq.


In the Vietnam and Korean wars, the US military forcibly conscripted many soldiers. These conscription methods made exceptions for the wealthy and well-educated, which meant that poor people and people of color were disproportionately conscripted. Several US presidents including [[Bill Clinton]], [[Donald Trump]], and [[Joe Biden]] managed to dodge the draft.
In the Vietnam and Korean wars, the US military forcibly conscripted many soldiers. These conscription methods made exceptions for the wealthy and well-educated, which meant that poor people and people of color were disproportionately conscripted. Several US presidents including [[Bill Clinton]], [[Donald Trump]], [[George W. Bush]], and [[Joe Biden]] managed to dodge the draft.<ref>{{Web citation|author=Amy J. Rutenberg|newspaper=The Atlantic|title=What Trump’s Draft Deferments Reveal|date=2019-01-02|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/01/trumps-military-draft-deferment-isnt-unusual/579265/|retrieved=27/06/2024}}</ref> Today, the US military does not use conscription, but retains the legal right to start doing so again.<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=sss.gov|title=Selective Service System|url=https://www.sss.gov/#:~:text=While%20there%20is%20currently%20no,a%20fair%20and%20equitable%20manner.|retrieved=27/06/2024}}</ref>
 
Today, the US military does not use conscription, but retains the legal right to start doing so again.
 
The US military has by far the highest budget of any military in the world, more than double that of the country in second place, China.


The US military has by far the highest budget of any military in the world, more than double that of the country in second place, China.<ref>{{Web citation|newspaper=World Bank|title=Military expenditure (current USD)|url=https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/MS.MIL.XPND.CD?most_recent_value_desc=true|retrieved=27/06/2024}}</ref>
While the US military has experienced some success in conventional warfare, they are frequently defeated by opponents using guerrilla tactics, such as by the [[National Liberation Front of South Vietnam]] (Viet Cong) in Vietnam, and more recently by the [[Taliban]] in Afghanistan.
While the US military has experienced some success in conventional warfare, they are frequently defeated by opponents using guerrilla tactics, such as by the [[National Liberation Front of South Vietnam]] (Viet Cong) in Vietnam, and more recently by the [[Taliban]] in Afghanistan.



Revision as of 18:12, 27 June 2024

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The United States Armed Forces constitute the military of the United States of America.

The US Armed Forces are responsible for countless atrocities and war crimes throughout their entire existence (see: Category:Atrocities committed by the United States below). In the 19th century, they massacred indigenous Native Americans as the US expanded westward. They have massacred civilians during their wars of aggression against Korea, Vietnam and Iraq, and are also the only military that has used nuclear weapons in warfare.[1] These, the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, were entirely unnecessary, as Japan was already in the process of negotiating a surrender. Although the US government has repeatedly attempted to cover up the atrocities committed by its military, many of them have been exposed by the international media. Notable examples include the Wounded Knee massacre against the Lakota people, the No Gun Ri massacre in Korea, the Mỹ Lai massacre in Vietnam, and the torture and abuse of prisoners in the Abu Ghraib Prison in Iraq.

In the Vietnam and Korean wars, the US military forcibly conscripted many soldiers. These conscription methods made exceptions for the wealthy and well-educated, which meant that poor people and people of color were disproportionately conscripted. Several US presidents including Bill Clinton, Donald Trump, George W. Bush, and Joe Biden managed to dodge the draft.[2] Today, the US military does not use conscription, but retains the legal right to start doing so again.[3]

The US military has by far the highest budget of any military in the world, more than double that of the country in second place, China.[4] While the US military has experienced some success in conventional warfare, they are frequently defeated by opponents using guerrilla tactics, such as by the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam (Viet Cong) in Vietnam, and more recently by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

In 2023, documents were leaked showing that the USAF wants to use deepfakes to distribute propaganda.[5][6]

References

  1. “The United States has considered but has never declared an NFU policy and remains the only country to have ever used nuclear weapons in war—twice against Japan, in 1945.”

    "‘No First Use’ and Nuclear Weapons".
  2. Amy J. Rutenberg (2019-01-02). "What Trump’s Draft Deferments Reveal" The Atlantic. Retrieved 27/06/2024.
  3. "Selective Service System". sss.gov. Retrieved 27/06/2024.
  4. "Military expenditure (current USD)". World Bank. Retrieved 27/06/2024.
  5. “Provide a next generation of “deep fake” or other similar technology to generate messages and influence operations via non-traditional channels in relevant peer/near peer environments.”

    "U.S. SOCOM Procurement Document Announcing Desire to Utilize Deepfakes".
  6. Sam Biddle (2023-03-06T11:59). "U.S. Special Forces Want to Use Deepfakes for Psy-Ops" The Intercept.