Expert: Peter Eriksson - 12/13/2008

Question
This is not a homework question...I'm trying to learn about the military. What kind of homework question asks "who can beat the US?" I was asking the question because theoretically Russia is a "threat" because they threatened an attack if the US places the missile defense systems. China could be a threat because they have so many people and are investing so much money, but their navy doesn't stand a chance against the US which is the only way they could win. So can you please help answer the question because everyone else I ask say it's outside their expertise.

Is there any military in the world that stands a chance against the US? It seems like the US military is so much more powerful, do threats of countries militarizing really scare the US? How many countries would it take to beat the US?

Answer
Are you fearing Chinese motorized divisions rolling down Park Avenue? Or a Russian Airborne Regiment patroling Hollywood Boulevard?

But IŽll try to give you an answer to your last question:
How many countries would it take to beat the US?

Only one, and that is USA itself. An implosion seems far more likely than a large-scale invasion from any other country. The international trading of commodities and resources has interlaced the whole world to a degree that large-scale war between superpowers hurts more than any benefit.