Whilst sad in its way, I think this may demonstrate the futility of prejudice over good sense. The RAF were determined to get rid of the Harrier (and thus the RN from FW aviation) to the extent they were willing to follow the financial nonsense of a £7Bn requirement (GR4) vs a £1Bn one (GR9) in so doing removing the one capability that may prove useful on the current ME/N Africa meltdown - ie carrier air power. UK FW in Afgh is a sideshow as it can be replaced by a myriad of other nations aircraft.
If you place this alongside the Sunday Times article by Mick Smith where he alleges the RN are looking to replace the Nimrod capability (presumably with leased P3s or something similar flown by the FAA), and the RN are now the only Service training Observers/Navs and WSOps/Aircrewmen, then the RAF have really got themselves in a fix.