Leaderless military?

That’s not self-criticism, incidentally. Lt.-Gen Andrew Leslie is warning that attrition and the heavy demand for senior officers and sergeants in Afghanistan have depleted the pool of candidates capable of filling "tactical level" positions. His concerns are contained in his 2009-10 strategic assessment provided to the federal government, and they echo thoughts he shared at a recent Senate committee hearing. Those remarks were not received with much warmth in the Defence Minister’s office, which felt blindsided. In this latest assessment, Leslie also warns that the 2010 Olympics will also increase pressure on the army, drawing away soldiers and mucking up training protocols.

Ottawa Citizen