Easy, it is widely recognised that Stirrup stitched up the RN and FAA in the final moments (literally) of SDSR - Cameron realised this later. The announcement re the Ferguson study are a direct result of all this.
The damage done to the RAF by Anderson et al will be felt for years to come as no one trusts the top of the RAF to tell the truth.
Ellamy was a huge success for the RAF but had nothing to do with those at the top.
The "fudge" by the RN re F18 was supported by both MoD and the Treasury. The FAA had to get the FW stream out of the hands of 22 Gp and the USN wanted to ensure the survival of proper Naval aviators as they were horrified by the RAF attitude to embarked ops (ie minimal exposure, hop on hop off). Again I refer you back to the Ferguson report.
I am very Joint in disposition but have totally lost faith in the RAF as a cooperative organisation.
Last edited by Bismark; 25th Jan 2013 at 08:27.