Can Rudd and Gillard focus on the war?

The subtext is that a Government consumed with the folly of a carbon dioxide tax and the vanity of a United Nations sinecure has no time for what matters more:

AUSTRALIA is pursuing "half a strategy in Afghanistan", with one of the nation's most respected army commanders warning there is confusion over its mission and what it wants to achieve in the decade-long war.

Peter Leahy, who served as chief of army from 2002 to 2008, told The Australian yesterday that time was running out to get the strategy right....

Professor Leahy - now a director of Canberra University's National Security Institute - suggested a key role for Kevin Rudd as a senior minister with broad responsibilities embracing more than defence to oversee development of a wider strategy.

"With the Prime Minister consumed by the carbon tax, perhaps it is time for the Foreign Minister to step away from Africa and provide strategic leadership on a whole-of-government approach to Australia's future strategy in Afghanistan and how it contributes to our overall national security," Professor Leahy said.