When you say "at the top", m guessing you mean in a military sense? And yes this is true. America spends a ton of money on arms to stay in front whilst other countries spend it on healthcare and schools etc.
What troubles me is the scared attitude that "someone is after us". Their not. The vast majority of people just want food on the table and a peaceful place to live. How many countries have tried to invade America in the last 40 years? How many countries has America invaded?
I dont live in America. I live in a less war like country (that tends to follow your military machine into every stupid conflict you lot create) with much more freedom and allot less scared citizens. Truth be told I probably could not live the lifestyle i do if i lived in America. Your avg wages suck, your healthcare is to expensive, you dont get many holidays and sick days, and there are way to many people.
by "at the top" i mean #1. its globally accepted that the US is the #1 country in the world. the heavyweight champ ufc/boxing is #1. the cubs are world series champs #1. the dollar is the preferred currency of the world, #1. these are examples of what i mean.
when you are the best, or "at the top", people want to come after you. its just human. someone wants to beat the heavyweight champ. another country wants their currency to be worth more (all of them, except china probably), the entire MLB wants to take the cubs down. you follow?
military is just our shield, our security, and absolutely it is to threaten anyone anywhere from thinking they can fuck with this. its no different than the locks we put on the doors of our house. except the military can secure locations and kill if needed, the house being the entire US. which is why no one has invaded in the last "40 years." no one wants to break into this house (america) because they know it has a deadly alarm.
ISIS and liberals are the ones intent on attempting destroying america as we know it. ISIS wont be happy until america looks like syria. and the libs wont be happy until america looks cuba or venezuela.