Boldface,
Harsh, but essentially fair. Those areas that you mention are not down to inability on the part of the of the ATC guys, but down to lack of exposure, appropriate training and a lack of foresight on the part of the ATC powers at the then HQ MATO, then HQ STC and now Air Cmd (or whatever it's called this week). The only guys who have that experience in bundles are the ATC cadre at TCW and pretty bloody good they are. Trouble is, they were taken for granted for too long and there are so few of them around in the mainstream, their experience cannot readily be passed on to the less-experienced mainstream ATC folks.
If ATC is to contribute effectively in present and future operations, it must seek more common ground with the FC guys - although I understand that may already be under way. If they Navy guys can wear 2 hats (FC/ATC), then it is not much to ask our guys to do the same. It must also properly train everbody for OOA ops. The American ATC folks (for all their faults) have had a more tactical/portable view to their ATC. Now they are far from perfect, but we could learn a few things from them. However late in the day that may be.
Hard hat on and preparing for incoming
.
WJMcP