Former RAF Senior Commander, President “UK Air & Space Power Association”. RUSI Distinguished Fellow. All views expressed are strictly in a personal capacity.
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2/ But, over a week of Israeli strikes has brought the Iranian defence network to its knees, and their Air Force have been able to operate even 4th generation aircraft overhead Iran with impunity. Air supremacy is a tough state to achieve but it has been over Iran.
2/ The budget is set: 2.5% rising to 3% by next Parliament (Healey says 2034). And there are rumours of a future 3.5% target for NATO nations. Whilst 2.5% will probably only paper over the cracks, the higher %s will depend on National economic performance and HMT good will.
2/ The article takes the premises of: (A) a combat air shortfall exists, and (B) the Carrier strike capability must be preserved. I agree wholeheartedly on the former point, but looking at the problem solely through the lens of the Carriers skews and limits the airpower aspects. 
2/ Multiple others carry varying degrees of culpability, by either condoning the release at the time or denying it subsequently. The deflection attempts are focussing on the journalist or the definition of war plans - these are irrelevant to the fundamental argument. 
2/ It looks like the UK may have been providing fuel to the US strikes against Houthi targets. This is not new, we have participated in strikes in the past. But this mission was in the context of a breach in National Security, that also included statements denigrating Europe. 
1/ Nations have secrets - they can be about their own vulnerabilities or those of potential enemies. They can be used to protect sensitive technology or information that confer an advantage. They can be about plans to take certain actions.
2/ Note that in the header of the document there is a standardised classification heading which tells the reader exactly what the classification is and, therefore, how to handle the document and its details. 
2/ The level of information that was posted appears to amount to at least Secret (targets, times and weapons ahead of a strike), but some may possibly be even higher than that (CIA Operative names). These are clear breaches if true, and everyone involved should have known that.
2/ First let’s make some assumptions: 1) the US will not expend any military effort pre or post peace; 2) any peace will need a degree of air control to monitor and deter; 3) peace could take some time to be negotiated and Ukraine needs assistance/reassurance during that period.
2/ Option 1 - Hold our nerve & stay as we are in the belief that the US will see sense and adjust their views on Europe, Ukraine & Russia. I think we are too far gone to take this choice and I can’t believe I’m seeing and saying that! Score 3/10
2/ We know that the American Eagle flight (AA5342) was making a cleared approach to Runway 33 at the Ronald Reagan Airport. Whilst a standard approach it is less commonly used than Runway 01, which is the longer runway. 
2/ It’s fair to say we shouldn’t assume that he will follow through literally on every statement he has made, but with the Trifecta of the popular vote as President and a majority in both Houses he will be emboldened by that mandate.
2/ Although, if you used GDP per Capita you could come to a very different conclusion, but for the sake of simplicity let’s stay focussed on pure GDP as the yardstick.