it’s a war machine built for the kind of war that doesn’t even happen anymore

The US military is obviously an economic engine first and foremost, but this is silly. If an actual war broke out it would be just as effective as ever unless it's an all out nuclear war, which we would all have bigger things to worry about. And in the case of the US military being built for the kind of war that doesn't happen, then 100% of other countries militaries are also built for war that wont happen any more. If you think the US doesn't develop new tech/cyber warfare/etc with that budget just like every other country does if not more, you're nuts.

If WW3 broke out right now the US would still be the most powerful individual force.