The unfortunate thing is that the impression of the British military being less than capable comes out of the same problem that left the American military skulking out of Vietnam to be spat upon by their countrymen... The damned politicians.
The abject failure of elected leaders to chose a course of action and then let the experts get on with it is the root of the problem. Most elected leaders today have no military experience and have no stomach for loss which leads to their misguided attempts to micromanage something they have no business in. Generals shouldn't have to go to politicians to ask for additional troops for a "surge". If it's deemed militarily appropriate and is in accordance with the mission as laid down by the politicians in the first place then the Generals should order the troops into battle and send the bill to the politicians. If equipment is needed to fulfill the mission and keep troops safe it should be acquired and the bill be sent to the politicians... It's up to them to justify the expenditure to the electorate just as it's up to them to justify their decision to send troops into harms way in the first place. As it is they make decisions and then try to manage the situation in a fashion that limits their accountability morally, ethically and fiscally which will always result in bad policy, flawed strategy and, as is the case here, the impression that the military are incapable.
Rant over... My apologies...