Maybe this should get brought up every time the Internet scoffs at America's weak social programs.
The Europeans would have to cut their own social programs if they wanted to do any peacekeeping / humanitarian aid operations - all of that is contingent on American logistical support. Hell, my guess is that they would castigate a more leftist, benign American government; it would make things a hell of a lot harder for a lot of people.
I'm a liberal, and I'd take massive cuts at the war department even without re spending it all on entitlements.
And we don't need such a huge military for humanitarian work either.