If all the equipment used in Iraq and Afghanistan is replaced (and much of it will no longer be serviceable), and all the munitions are restocked, it will cost billions upon billions. Veterans (quite rightly) are going to need billions in aftercare.

The costs of war drain the economy in many ways, while adding little. The cost of peace is also very high, but it is productive. Constructive, not destructive.

BTW There should be a European Education Corps - a state-paid minimum wage gap year adventure in developing countries around the world - helping build, teaching kids, working with refugees etc etc. Everyone benefits - and we need a new generation in Europe who understand that what we say we 'want' here, has ramifications all over the world.

You can't be me, I'm taken