Here's the Globe & Mail's take on it.
Defence Minister shakes up military brass
Jane Taber
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The general who ran Canada’s army is being replaced as part of more than 50 changes to the senior ranks of the military.
No explanation is given for Lieutenant-General Andrew Leslie’s change in status. A news release issued today simply says the new Chief of Land Staff is Major-General P.J. Devlin, who is being promoted to Lieutenant-General.
Lt.-Gen. Leslie served in Afghanistan, where in June of 2003 he was named commander of Task Force Kabul and deputy commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force. Today’s release says that his next appointment will “be announced at a later date.”
The changes were made by Defence Minister Peter MacKay, mostly on the advice of the Chief of Defence Staff. General Walter Natyncyzk says in the release he has “trust and confidence” in the leadership skills of all those promoted.
Notable, too, is that Vice-Admiral Bruce Donaldson has been appointed Vice Chief of the Defence Staff, replacing Vice-Admiral Denis Rouleau, who is to become Canada’s NATO representative in Brussels.
“It’s really not sweeping,” Mr. MacKay told The Globe in an email. “It’s a high tempo period for the Canadian Forces and as a result these type of assignments occur to keep us ever fresh and also in keeping with career paths and promotions.”
He added that “Lt.-Gen Leslie has several options under consideration and I assure you he is a tremendously capable leader who has more to give.”
The changes come as the military prepares to wind down its military mission in Afghanistan in 2011 and MPs scrutinize the transfer of detainees to likely torture in Afghan prisons since operations began nearly a decade ago.
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