Who is Ian Hope and wht is his Reputation? Is Fraser still the CO of the PPCLI?
(BTW Hope is a Scots name.) I get nervous for the lads and lassies when a new "Battle Group" commander is parachuted into the scene, after successes happen. Success attracts REMF types like flies to honey. Many are aristocrats who have no intention of getting dirty, and their main military maxim is : " CYA."(And REMF who want to appear to be on the front lines of conflict cause too many people die unnecessarily.)
I am surprised that Hope has the bully press pulpit.
Brig Gen David Fraser is in command of the Nato forces patrolling six southern Afghan provinces around Kandahar, which force includes a Canadian battle group built around 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry Regiment (1 PPCLI) which is commanded by Lt Col Ian Hope.
Hope had the "bully pulpit" because Matthew Fisher is travelling with and reporting on the doings of Hope's people.
BTW I am delighted to see that Matthew Fisher is back in Afghanistan. He likes and understands the troops and he did a good job of reporting on the prior deployment at Kabul from the point of view of the people who were actually out on patrol.