The basic state pension, first introduced in 1908, is one of the sacred cows of Britain's welfare state.

ECONOMIST: Who needs a state pension?

Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who brought the decision before the full cabinet, Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and their colleagues all asserted that by committing the state to defending its warriors, they were fulfilling their sacred duty to protect Israel's protectors.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Defending freedom's defenders