"I would argue a country's "need" is based precisely on it's GDP... Again, there are a few THOUSAND years of history to back up that statement."
So, for instance, Czechoslovakia didn't need a very large military to fend off Hitler, because its GDP was low, but modern Japan needs an enormous military, because of its high GDP. Brazil should be armed to the teeth, but Syria has very little need for a military. Nobody in Sudan needs an army, because they aren't really producing very much at all, but Germany? Load up the luftwaffe.
Indeed, had Napoleon not wanted to lose the battle of Waterloo, all he had to do was obliterate the French economy. Then his need for an army would have been zero, and he wouldn't have lost. (Edit: Okay, so technically, your argument would not be that he wouldn't lose per se, but that Wellington wouldn't have had any further reason to bother beating him, what with France being worthless.)
Perhaps you might show me where in history, these *thousands* of years, that proves this previously unproven direct correlation between military need and GDP? Might I suggest that one's military needs correlate more accurately with the force your opponents can bring to bear on you, and that this seldom has anything to do with your GDP?
Jester
So, for instance, Czechoslovakia didn't need a very large military to fend off Hitler, because its GDP was low, but modern Japan needs an enormous military, because of its high GDP. Brazil should be armed to the teeth, but Syria has very little need for a military. Nobody in Sudan needs an army, because they aren't really producing very much at all, but Germany? Load up the luftwaffe.
Indeed, had Napoleon not wanted to lose the battle of Waterloo, all he had to do was obliterate the French economy. Then his need for an army would have been zero, and he wouldn't have lost. (Edit: Okay, so technically, your argument would not be that he wouldn't lose per se, but that Wellington wouldn't have had any further reason to bother beating him, what with France being worthless.)
Perhaps you might show me where in history, these *thousands* of years, that proves this previously unproven direct correlation between military need and GDP? Might I suggest that one's military needs correlate more accurately with the force your opponents can bring to bear on you, and that this seldom has anything to do with your GDP?
Jester