This makes little sense, particularly for someone with his title. “Complacency” and calculated risk are totally different animals.
“Complacency” is to patiently sit in camp and wait for the enemy to gather their forces for co-ordinated action. There is nothing “complacent” with outmaneuvering between superior enemy forces to grab the advantage of interior lines of communication and piecemeal opposition.
That such an article comes from “Head of War Studies at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst” may go some distance in explaining the peculiar lack of British military initiative in the Army’s recent campaigns.
I agree. “Complacency” is a terrible word to use in the context of the events portrayed above.
I think “over-confident” or even “arrogant” would have fit better.