Cuts playing into the hands of our enemies

THE FRIDAY THING: WHILE the murderous fanatic Jihadi John continues to burn people alive and behead growing numbers of innocents, there is a more worrying paradox to spread fear and alarm across Britain.

What has happened, almost in secret it seems, is that our government has made so many cash-saving cuts we can no longer afford to defend ourselves against the armies of terror lurking in distant and foreign parts.

We have had it too easy for too long. Government has taken its eye off the potential harm that cutting, then cutting some more, has inflicted at a time when war mongers have their eyes on the damage inflicted on our ability to protect ourselves.

This is not something that should be taken lightly. Our enemies - and we have many in many parts of the world - will be making ready to take advantage of our unpreparedness.

The American army is deeply concerned by the cuts we have made in defence spending over the last few years and is beginning to wonder if we will ever be in a position to join them in military action in the foreseeable future.

For decades now, we have fought alongside our American allies, helping to bring a lasting peace to many parts of the world. We mustn’t walk away from the Americans now. We need them, but they need us, properly funded and properly armed, to play our part.

We must not walk away. The defence of ourselves and our friends and allies should have a top priority.