Covec,
Home Defence also includes all of those overseas territories that contribute to our current and future wealth. You must also remember that we are a trading nation and 90% of our wealth comes by sea, 80-90% of transatlantic air traffic flies through our skies. Hunkering down and shutting our borders, ignoring everything else is not and has never been an option. We can afford current Defence requirements, all it will take is a fraction on the money that was spent bailing out ONE bank, Northern Rock to afford it. That is the issue. We are a force for good in the world, we are a trading nation and rather than looking at Defence cuts, in this very unsure world and concentrating on "the war", we should be cutting back on the Social Security burden and preparing for "A War".