Surely Richards has compromised himself in the same way as Dannatt did. He is so far hard over on Army capability at the expense of the RN and RAF, and "we must win in Afgh whatever the mortgage to the future" that he cannot be seen as being someone who can give impartial advice to SofS and PM. He is also far too arrogant now that he has made 4*. Houghton has a more purple upbringing and is probably more acceptable to the other 2 Services.....but Stanhope is gaining plaudits in MoD as well.