Britain is already at war and must prepare for hybrid warfare through public resilience and infrastructure strengthening
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/gabyhinsliff. "It’s time MPs levelled with us: Britain is already at war, and we’ll need to do two things to survive it | Gaby Hinsliff | The Guardian." April 28, 2026. www.theguardian.com
The Gist
The author argues that Britain is already being attacked through cyber-warfare, disinformation, and other non-military means, but politicians aren't being honest about this reality. She says we need to strengthen our public services and build a more united society to defend against this new kind of warfare.
Conclusion
Britain is currently under attack through hybrid warfare and must prepare for escalation by strengthening public institutions and building social resilience
Premises
- War can be defined as assault on five fronts: political leadership, critical infrastructure, essential supplies, civilian population, and armed forces
- Britain is currently being attacked on four of these fronts without conventional military action
- Evidence includes Russian disinformation campaigns, cyber-attacks on infrastructure, blockading of supply routes, and proxy attacks on civilians
- Traditional military preparedness focused on expeditionary wars is inadequate for homeland defense against peer adversaries
- Britain lacks proper defenses against drone attacks, mass casualty events, and cyber-attacks on critical systems
- Effective defense requires both strengthening public institutions and building social cohesion resistant to extremism
- Politicians have failed to adequately communicate this reality to the public
Assumptions
- The definition of war should be expanded beyond conventional military conflict
- Current attacks on Britain are coordinated state-sponsored activities rather than isolated incidents
- Future conflicts will primarily involve hybrid warfare rather than traditional military engagement
- Public awareness and preparation are necessary for effective national defense
- Social cohesion and institutional strength are legitimate military defense strategies