I don't agree Mark.I think what you are seeing is a PM who is getting frustrated fighting the enemies of this mission, both domestic and foreign.As a strategic thinker, I can only imagine the contempt he must feel for those who do not see why our prevailing in this conflict is so important.
As far as open ended commitments, i do not see the left complaining that we were in the middle east for 35 years+, (in some ways , still are, in a minor role..) or Cyprus..and we lost more men over there than we have in Afghanistan..
I can sense the frustration is because of the asinine questions put to him by the ever hateful reporters and journalists. It seems they have become stupid in their quest to "get Harper".
I sense this is more about fighting the war at home (getting the Tories out of office) than the Afganistan conflict and we do not get to see how the question was phrased by the reporter, only the answer - which of course is framed in just the right way to make SH look mean and petulant...exactly what the reporter was after.
Perhaps if the press in this country gave him the same "breaks" they gave Paul Martin and Jean Chretien, he would not be so grumpy.
I think Harper because of his own reading and because his father was (is?) very interested in military history, has great respect and admiration for the forces.
However he must find it very frustrating that our Nato allies are not equally sharing the burden. And of course suicide bombers and planted bombs mean that most of our casualties are not from straight-forward fighting.
I agree completely Nicola... I'm certain Harper would prefer to throw a lot more effort at the situation with the commitment of NATO troops and American Troops, and get the damn thing over.
The longer it takes the more people die... Do it once, in overwhelming strength, and be done with it.
"Prime Minister Grumpy"
May I use this sometime, Mark?
Happy New Year to all here.