Pheasant,
It's been said before but cast your mind back to the euphoria surrounding the Torphy appointment (and to a degree that of his predecessor, the current CDS). Not only does the Peter principle apply (promotion in a heirarchy to a point of incompetence) but the older truth of "whoever you vote for the government always gets in" is also valid. Senior officers, and particularly 4 stars don't get where they are without a solid foundation of self serving ambition and political savvy so why the surprise that those at the top look to themselves first second and third? And before any mention of General Dannett does anyone seriously believe that if the post of CDS had been a realistic proposition he would have popped his head above the parapet? His "forthrightness" will sell more than a few extra copies of his memoires to be sure.
God, I hate cynics