Pious
You are wrong, the UK will operate its own RJs from 2013/14. Also, if you knew a lot about the nature of their work you would realise how the RJ (and the previous R1) forms a BIG part of the "special relationship" and so they are unlikely to ever operate outside of this arrangement. They will be ours to task and fly with our crews from that date. They are also incorporating UK modifications to our aircraft (which the US are likely to want to retrofit).
By the way, it is RIVET JOINT capital letters as a BIG SAFARI program.
Finally, I note that you're from Lancashire - there was never a cat in hells chance of those idiots at Warton in delivering anywhere near the capability for £680M. So in my mind the RC-135 V/W RIVET JOINTs were an absolute bargain.
iRaven