[failwhaleshark]

War is [often] a racket. - Smedley Butler

On the defensive-side: Weakness invites aggression. Prepare for war so you don't have to. MAD is that and has prevented untold world wars and potentially billions of deaths for 70 years by making large-scale war too costly.

On the other hand: Over-preparing, over-extending, and over-spending on unnecessary wars is evidence of MIC corruption.