Betrayed by a Reckless Civilian Leadership ; LEADING ARTICLE ++ ARMED FORCES

Beginning of article

The rumblings of discontent from the armed forces are growing louder. Earlier this year, the Chief of General Staff, General Sir Richard Dannatt, breached the informal code of silence that binds serving generals, to warn that the "covenant" between service personnel and the Government is in danger of being undermined. Last week, his predecessor, General Sir Mike Jackson, used his first major speech since retirement to argue the Government was "asking too much" of the armed forces.

And now we have been furnished with evidence as to what these two distinguished soldiers were referring. A report by the House of Commons Defence Committee published yesterday revealed that …