I found a thread from 2000 discussing very similar issues, before 9/11, the abandonment of SDR mandated force levels, Afghanistan, Iraq, the Hoon cuts, more proposed cuts....
State of the Nation - an open letter
I fear this regime of death by a thousand cuts will continue until it all goes wrong one day and we get thoroughly trashed by some tinpot regime who spent out on a few F16s and a couple of silent electric subs.
We have got too complacent over the last century or more by not losing any wars, our luck cant last, and as long as we continue to get involved in conflicts we had better be ready for the nasty shock which must, inevitably, come. Are our politicians ready for this, and are we, for that matter? It will shake this great nation to its core when it happens, and who knows what will result from the aftershocks.
Agaricus bisporus on page five.