Libya, Brazil, and Self-Relliance

As a Brazilian it sounded shocking to me to learn that the order to enforce the no fly zone was sent while Obama was visiting Brazil, not only that, but visiting my home city of Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil has a long tradition of non-interference and pacifism when it comes to foreign affairs. I've always thought that these positions suited us very well, since Brazil never had influence, nor power to project its political views very far from home. Maybe the Brazilian government positions could have a direct impact within South America, maybe to Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, since they are our big trade partners within MERCOSUL, but it certainly wouldn't be of much concern to Mexico, for example.

Our military is a lot more prepared to defend our territory and seas than to go abroad to do any big damage. This is something very obvious when you see that the Brazilian nave dreams on building a small fleet of nuclear attack submarines, not a fleet of nuclear aircraft carriers (which is also a lot more expensive), when you see that the main concern of the Brazilian army is to defend the borders against drug traffickers and paramilitary forces from neighboring countries, and you learn the fact that there is no long range bombers on the Brazilian air force, only interceptors and fighters from the 60's and 70's.  In fact, the Brazilian military as a whole consumes no more than 3 to 4% of the national GDP -- the police force most probably consumes more.

From time to time there are some peacekeeping task force that Brazil will take part on, most probably as a credible neutral party, but nothing of significance. But Brazil has been pressuring to reform the ONU's security consul and be included as a permanent member, it's economic clout has been steadily growing even in a moment when the world goes through the Great Recession and all the developed nations are struggling with sluggish economic growth and debt crisis. So, my question is, for how long will Brazil remain militarily anemic?

My personal opinion is that Brazil should remain so indefinitely: pacifist and non-interventionalist. Let others kill themselves! We are very comfortable in our little corner of the world. We don't need foreign oil, food, or water. We don't need much of any foreign resources; we could survive comfortably any world shortage. We have a dynamic economy, growing inwards with a big consumer market to support it. So, why bother? My critic to my own position is: remember US during World Word II? I think it will be impossible not to get into this mess... eventually.