The Short, Victorious War by David Weber
Honor Harrington book 3
Haven is beset by extreme financial difficulties due to something like 80% of their population being on welfare, and they've run out of small star systems to conquer and pillage to pay for them. They're up against Manticore now, and want an incident to put them on a war footing so that they can convince their populace to accept smaller doles.
Of course, they get their asses handed to them. Happy side effect: at the end, Pavel Young is on his way to a court martial for cowardice in the face of the enemy.