It may be wrong, but sometimes I miss the cold war.
We are entering a new Cold War. Putin's posturing in Europe are awakening old fears and new worries. Eisenhower warned against the rise of the military-industrial complex. Well its been real since his death.
Unfortunately, our economy is based upon a wartime economy (eg. as Raytheon and General Dynamics goes, so goes the economy). The country improves when there is a war as we are the worlds leader in the manufacture and worldwide sale of weapons of war.
When the enemies were easier to define.
Do you still think that the USA is under threat, or have you yet come to the conclusion that the US thrives on making new enemies to keep everyone in line?
I don't think it's intentional, just the way it works in the politics of the nation state. But yes. When you define a national identity the idea of us vs them is inherent in your definition. So you start with us, then it's quite natural to see all your problems as originating from "them".