This NFL broadcast is being watched by military personnel serving in over 175 countries.

Some Sundays I, like a few other million Americans watch NFL. I did it again this past Sunday while I was doing some work. As I was taking a break I glanced at the screen and saw that message or something very close to it. The key points were American soldiers are in 175 Countries while they're watching this game.

I wondered why.

Not why are they watching, I mean they're American, so of course they're watching football.

No, why are they watching from where they're currently deployed in 175 countries? Why are American soldiers stationed in 175 countries? Why do they need to be there?

Again, if they're serving in far away places and putting their lives at risk then they should have all the support and all the comforts we can provide them. Watching NFL games broadcast live or otherwise is one of those comforts they should expect.

But, why so many countries? Why aren't they watching it from here in the U.S?

Do other countries have their soldiers serving in 175 countries? 10 countries? In how many countries are Russian or Chinese or UK or French, German ... Burundi soldiers stationed? 30, tops, combined?

Just curious.

Is this the last remnant of our Exceptionalism? Whereas we once were known for our coast-to-coast highway system, public education, gleaming airports, colleges and thriving middle-class and active democracy and natural resources ... we've squandered, er, invested them in ... stationing troops in 175 countries.

Course then there's the follow-on questions of what if they were stationed in only 50 countries. What would that do to our nation's budget? Would we have the money for infrastructure enhancements or early-childhood healthcare or unemployment or education or school lunches or homeless shelters or ... mental health and drug rehab programs or police-training or, or, something else? What if we funded the VA so that it served the needs of those soldiers?

Other countries are able to do these things without busting their budgets. Maybe it's because they don't feel the need to post their sons and daughters in 175 countries.

I'm just curious why we need to do that.