A question about military manpower vs population

[El_Phil]

Starhawk said:
Well another argument Geoschmo is that technology has a way of winding back around in a circular pattern by that i mean eventually technology would nullify it's own effect, some say that we may eventually see the return of WWI and WWII style warfare someday in the future, not because the technology has become primitive again but because both sides having that kind of tech may very well result in a return to the old style of fighting.

So if you think about it wouldn't military forces increase again as this "circular" pattern of technology countering it's self equalized the playing fields?

There is a cycle, offence and defence. When one improves the other reacts to it. Whether in weapons or tactics. Faced with charging knights? Longbows
Faced with armoured charging knights? Shoot the horses.
Armoured knights and horses? Gunpowder

Over simplified maybe but that's the principle. This held true until nukes against which a ballistic missile shield might work and only Moscow with 100 dedicated ABM batteries is really safe at the moment. However that doesn't stop a nuclear tipped cruise missile ruining you day.

The big trend that I see is the consequence of a small failure in defence:
If an archer missed one knight at Agincourt it wouldn't change much.
If an anti-tank crew missed one tank in North Africa it could ruin their day, but someone nearby could cover.
If your SAMs miss an F/A-18 you'll have a hole in your defence network eveyone else will steam through.
If your ABM shield missese one nuke...
If your fleet misses one ship on a 'glassing' mission.....

[NullAshton]

Humans populate most of the Star Wars galaxy, I'd guess around 80% of the population is human. The alien populations are repressed by means of fear, and controlling laws. The Rebellion is viewed by the empire as a minor threat, and very little resources are used against them, most of the forces are used for tyranny and conquering new systems.