Can't agree more with you. However, if it's just the mid level management position that we are talking about, it's probably not as bad. Job shouldn't be too demanding and the politics that one has to deal with is most likely managable.
A leadership position at executive level would be a different story. Long hours and 24x7 responsibility are just starters. The suite of skills that it demands can be overwhelming if one is not well prepared. Like you said, it's so much more than just the language skill. Not everyone is cut out for this type of challenges.