Where in the World is the USA?

With US participation in the NATO bombing of Libya, a heightened number of troops in Afghanistan, and an enduring presence in Iraq we hear it again and again that the US military presence is stretched oto thin. But just how stretched is it--globally speaking?

http://motherjones.com/military-maps

This interactive graphic from Mother Jones let's users view American troop presence in every country around the globe. Complete with a timeline users can view the increase (and in some cases) decline of US troops in each and every country since 1950. Also, users can click on an individual country to learn more about present US military involvement.

So while we all knew the US has troops in Iraq and Afghanistan who knew there were 37 US soldiers in Brazil or that in 1990 the US had between 101-1000 troops in Zambia and today we have just 6--you do thanks to Mother Jones!

It also helps to put current events in context when we say the US has two US military sites and 288 troops in Egypt.

The sun never set on the British Empire and thanks to Mother Jones we know that it isn't setting on the American empire either. Of course, is this kind of global military presence sustainable?

While history gives us the answer to that question, that would require another graphic.

Chip Gibbons