Former RAF Senior Commander, President “UK Air & Space Power Association”. RUSI Distinguished Fellow. All views expressed are strictly in a personal capacity.
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.
2/ The raid demonstrates a level of co-ordination and execution that is way more precise, sophisticated and devastating than the salvo firing of some less-than-successful drones or missiles - which is Iran’s only viable conventional means to strike Israel. 
2/ Air Defence of the UK will remain a key but consuming task, where the majority of our Typhoons could be tied to defence of the UK and overseas territories. But this should limit the need for ground based effectors, because of our geography and NATO defensive screen in front. 
GCAP is a beast (1/3 bigger than a Typhoon) that appears to have a significant internal payload capacity as well as the fuel load to conduct long range missions. 2/13 aerosociety.com/news/gcap-anal…
The Bombers would follow their normal high-north route taking them round the coast of Norway. They would be detected and shadowed by other NATO radars and interceptors, but with no sign of hostile intent they would continue south. 2/8 
They have used deadly chemical and radioactive agents in the UK to assassinate people in a way that kills other innocent people. 
