Part of the post ww2 division of labor. The US would keep its war industry and become western capitalism's primary enforcement arm worldwide, letting its allies or defeated clients host US military bases and develop consumer products industries.

[–] Belly_Beanis@hexbear.net 5 points 6 days ago

Yah the reason Europeans have stuff like free education and healthcare is because the US does all their dirty work. Iraq is a perfect example. The US took very little oil for itself, continuing to rely on South American and domestic fossil fuels. But Iraq wasn't keeping its oil for itself, it was all being siphoned off to Britain, France, Norway, Germany, etc.