Hello Solomon,What has me going from amused at the situation to being shocked is this simple fact.
you hit the nail on the head there.
To understand what is going on you would need to read the Lisbon Treaty,Common Foreign and Security Policy and the Anglo French defence agreement.
That is a lot of dull reading but it can be summed up as follows:
Eliminate individual European nations' ability to conduct independent military operations by cutting force sizes and eliminating capabilities to enforce military integration.
Hence eliminating British aircraft carriers, there is a European agreement on creating a Pan European carrier group,and maritime patrol aircraft and probably the heavy tank fleet in future.
The idea being that all European countries will work together to project European power overseas.
Sarkozy and arch Europeanist Cameron appear to have seen Libya as a demonstration of European military power.
Hence U.S.S.Enterprise staying in the Arabian Sea and U.S.Air Force operations now drawing down as Obama lets them get on with it.
Good call Mr.President.
Cameron and Sarkozy have been rudely reminded of their military impotence.
The Common Foreign and Security Policy has been shown to be a sham.
Europe is looking a bit silly.
The United States has reinforced it's global dominance.
GrandLogistics.
The UK went up against a more powerful foe, at a greater distance from home, with a more challenging set of mission objectives than NATO is facing right now.
The UK beat the Argentinians.
This current conflict is in doubt.
Whether its because of politics. Because of the UN mandate (essentially politics). Or a lack of military capability (I would guess this is the main reason). One thing is readily apparent.
If the current conflict is stressing resources then those resources need to be increased.