We define "win" in very different terms. Yours seems akin to "battles," while the larger civilizational war is ongoing. Claiming Ho Chi Minh's "win" as our win is most amusing to me. Iraq is a mess, we still are involved militarily in Syria, Obama's Libya is also a mess, Afghanistan is ruled by the Taliban, and Israel's wars did not involve the American military. For such is was important for you to return to glory days for your response.
For myself and given $ 31 trillion in US debt today, it becomes past time for the prosperous 51 million South Koreans to man the DMZ by themselves, and pay fully for their own defense against the 26 million North Koreans, a backwater nation with half the population and a comparatively tiny economic base.
President Trump had observed of Europe that so many in NATO were not ponying up their agreed-upon share, and for this he was ridiculed. When Uncle Sam is supposed to be the world's policeman as well as the leading (by a lot) debtor nation in the world, it seems our priorities are now well out of whack. But what the heck let's just keep paying. We can't be out of money, because we still have blank checks left. After all, Biden just told us how great the economy is. Yeah for us!
For example, our financial support for and provisioning of Israel results in privileged access to intelligence and the lessons of Israel's military experience. This has had major benefits for the US in electronic warfare, drone system, stealth, antimissiles, and how to fight Soviet and Russian designed aircraft and weapons. American weapons are prized because of their effectiveness, part of which comes from our support for Israel and the benefits of Israeli experience.
Moreover, keep in mind that we can finance our public debt -- most of which is due to Medicare -- because (in part) our large military and willingness to protect other countries help to make the dollar attractive as the primary trade and reserve currency. This gives us access to the world's resources and makes Americans safe in most places.
This cannot and will not go on forever and we need to get our domestic economy and finances in order. I expect though that even as the world gradually relies more on other currencies, the dollar and American weapons and military skill will still be prized.
The much troubled and expensive development process for the F-35, for example, has resulted in a highly valued fighter that is an international sales success. Rich and formally neutral Switzerland, for example, has adopted the F-35 for its air force. Yes, it is that good -- and successor is said to be already secretly flying in testing as an early prototype.
How does one account for all this? Plausibly, it can be said that part of the cost for our large military and willingness to use it can be booked to Medicare. And perhaps the export value of American weapons can be credited there as well as an offset. In effect, I now get absurdly cheap medical care (yes, I am that old) because (in part) we are the world's policeman and supplier of the best arms.
And, by all means, South Korea and Europe should pay more for the cost of their defense in addition to all the US Treasury debt they buy. With pressure and persuasion, they will slowly pay more.