Trim Stab: Our restrictive alliance with the USA has been the principal reason for decline in our operational capability against any unique threats to the UK
Really? So I guess by your reasoning the US was entirely responsible for:
-The cancellation of CVA-01.
-The decision to form Joint Force Harrier- and the early retirement of the Sea Harrier/Harrier Force.
-The A-400 program and delays.
-The Nimrod Fiasco and the total abandonment of MPA.
-The retirement of UK ELINT and recon platforms without like capable replacements.
-The decision of the UK not to invest in stealth, tactical jamming or heavy/medium bombers.
-The atrophy of the once robust and capable UK aviation and shipbuilding industries. The UK has bought off the shelf, or license built some very capable US platforms, but in decades past would have built them themselves. AH-64, C-17, C-130, Chinook, RC-135, E-3, P-8, S-3...
-The delays of the QE and PoW. The flip flopping between STOVL, cat and trap and back to STOVL.
-The retirement of the Invincible class carries well before replacements were ready.
- An air tanker deal that will cost billions- and you don't even own them, and it specifically prohibits putting hoses on the A-400.
- The decline of the UK frigate fleet.
- The decline of the UK submarine fleet
- The overall decline of man power across the services...
But OK- it is much easier to blame the alliance....