To answer the first question, I have seen our vaunted leaders management of modern conflict. Rather than the traditional way of fighting a war, (walk in, kick arse, leave them to sort out their problems), the new way of fight a war is walk in, kick arse, underfund and under-equip your fighting men, tie their hands with silly ROE's and make them stand around being shot at until they are hit. In short, for some reason we feel a need to coddle our defeated enemy at the cost of our soldiers. That's wrong. Additionally, sofar we have managed to pick the wrong side in Libya and Egypt, what makes them think they are going to get it right this time. Someone recently said, "Are we about to become Al Quaida's Air Force?"...
Unfortunately it's the Politicians "Call of Duty" form of warfare, sitting at home in a comfy armchair watching the "game" unfold on the big telly in the corner. Safe in the knowledge you are safe from it effecting your day to day life, whilst bringing out rules based on some sense of fairplay that get people killed while falling over to be seen as Politically correct.
It's only when they finally go up against some Bast*rd big enough that fires back and missiles start dropping in Westminster and Downing Street will the likes of Hague finally get the message as he fills his pants.
Iraq was a classic when Bush declared the war over, problem was they didn't get the agreement of the other side on that. Neatly when things like that happen, those that carry on their war either home or away suddenly become "terrorists"