It's time to ask. Paul Mason is the economics editor for C4 TV and a columnist for The Guardian and his article - even if written for a British situation and audience - has a far wider relevance:http://www.theguardian.com/commentis...-urgent-threat

The actual title is 'Russia, jihadis or cyberwarfare – which is the most urgent of the new threats we face?' and asks a really awkward question how do we separate real threats from imagined ones?

He ends with:
Finally, what is the point of conventional armed forces at all, when so many threats originate inside UK borders, or on cyber networks? If those (UK) forces only properly work when interacting with the US or Europe, what do you do when those allies exhibit strategic incoherence.
Politicians find these questions difficult to ask, let alone answer. For the military establishment, its practice mapped for generations on to cap badges and regimental tartan, these are literally existential questions. But it’s time to ask them.

The last British strategic defence and security review in 2010 is now widely seen as failing to adjust what we did. Yes the UK, along with many NATO members, was at war in Afghanistan, with a plethora of 'small wars' scattered around in the fragile zones. With an 8% real decrease in defence spending, with the prospect if not reality the UK will spend less than 2% GNP (a NATO goal), decisions are needed.