Perhaps it is time for our current Politicians, the FCO and Senior Military Officers to finally complete "withdrawal from Empire" by accepting that:
1. Britain cannot afford a "world role".
2. Do we - the British Public - really want a "world role".
3. Do we, the British face a greater threat, conventional, Nuclear or assymetric than say Norway, Denmark, the Benelux, Germany, Spain or Portugal?
If yes, then is it because of our allegedly automatic support of US military intervention post 9/11 or because of past Empire and Foreign interests accrued due to Empire?
If "yes" to both of these then - stop and withdraw resepectively.
4. Lets go back to core basics - Defence of the Realm at Home, from Home. Not via interventionist policies abroad.
If this means redundancies then pay us all generously - esp. lower ranks - to re-enter civilian life and increase access and funding for retraining.