I first heard this during the World Cup this past summer. I think it was from the ESPN feed, and not even with the US team playing. The not-exact quote was: "A warm welcome to our men and women in the Armed Forces in 175 countries around the world." I remembered the "175", and heard it on one more World Cup broadcast before the "greeting" was revised, subsequently a welcome without the number.
Then, during the World Series, in at least the first game, the same announcement, to me word for word, still with the 175 number.
Then last night, on the Super Bowl, the announcer repeated the same welcome, with the same 175 number.
Damn. One hundred and seventy five countries with our armed forces. That means uniformed, garrisoned soldiers and sailors and aviators, doesn't it?
This is existential to me, radical empiricist that I am. I let my mind flow with this information, but I have to stop.
Shouldn't this be a secret? Are they all armed? Are we sure it's only 175? Isn't more better? Why was it 175 in the summer and still only 175 at Super Bowl time: are we failing? How many soldiers are employed in the counting? Do we have a PX in Abhkazia?
Somebody stop me.