andrewn
Why? With 6-8 jets, either land based or carrier based, we are only ever going to be part of a coalition. We could not achieve anything on our own. If a coalition of the "willing" is formed, and UK wish to participate, we will only be able to offer what we have right now. Which is not much. Why? Because we are broke after 10+ years of mismanagement, putting heads in the sand, procurement cock up after procurement cock up and, sadly, a military that makes do!
In some sad way there is probably a huge sigh of relief in some corridors in Whitehall that, because of the SDSR, we cannot get involved in any more open ended interventions.
Lets finish the current one (properly) before sticking our noses in more places we're not wanted.