and that the enabling factor is pervasive direct instantaneous communication.

In fact I left a lot out by putting it like that. Although cyberwarfare is definitely a growth area, I wasn't really referring to that.

I think that the changes in political economy which flow from globally networked markets and financial systems could lead to a mechanism which gives the military industrial complex a more 'profitable' area of investment. ie to turn swords to green ploughshares could well become the smart thing to do, economically.

It is energy shortage that will lead to a pull-back by the US, and ensure that no single dominant nation is in a position to project global power in the same way as the US, and the British before them.

"The future is already here -- it's just not very evenly distributed" William Gibson