Getting the job done
As with most 'accounts' of any campaign a book from a active participant will always convey the writers perspective of events, and will be in the main read by those who have no active knowledge of the situation. To that end Wards book does convey a comprehensive view of both the lead up and eventual conflict 'from the Hot seat'.
He gives good credit to the RAF for the RN Harrier training, and equally is rather scornful of the 'political' side of the Vulcan operation, which he was no fan of. Together with other articles and programs gleaned over the years I can only marvel at the way all the Harrier input was carried out with such skill and determination in such a weather hostile environment that precluded the normal SAR and safety considerations, and indeed the 'Rotary' back up seems to have been second to none. Without getting into arguments re the Black Buck operation viability, again the fact that the RAF managed to assemble a huge tanker based strike with quite old equipment in totally unforeseen circumstances is a great credit to both the tech and flying crews involved, and proves that when required our forces just get on with the job and get it done. The rather sad element that is common to all accounts is that inter service 'issues' still seem to prevail but despite this all the crews at the coal face are still great at Getting the job done despite the enemy fire and the 'bean counters'. Its the people that make the difference and we still have them in all our services.