Cuban 8,
You are partly correct. As you say, thrust is not produced by the jet efflux impinging on the air behind the exhaust nozzle. However, thrust is the reaction to the exhaust gas being ejected from the jet pipe, and thus it is in the opposite direction to the vector of the jet efflux. The proof is the Harrier in the hover! Or, take a balloon, blow it up, put a bent hollow tube in the hole and let go. It does not go in the same direction (even though it will still end up behind the sofa!).