Where Is Waldo? Afghanistan!

Well glad to see Dion and Iggy made it to Afghanistan, too bad they came with their talking points already pre-set, like Coderre did earlier. Where's the photo ops with the troops? Haven't seen any, maybe the troops are too busy defending Afghanistans to stand around and shake some politicians hand.

Laurie Hawn rips the Liberals on their policy, in the National Post comments section.

Mr. Dion finally found his way to Afghanistan. He and his once-hawkish sidekick, Michael Ignatieff, began their recent trip by visiting President Hamid Karzai and declaring that if they have their way Canada will not, after February, 2009, engage in combat with the Taliban or any enemy. Here's a newsflash, Mr. Dion, the Taliban are not seeking peace but victory over the Afghan people.

Afghanistan is being rebuilt from scratch, according to guidelines in the Afghanistan Compact, signed by 60 countries. Opposition parties say they want progress, but brush aside any evidence of progress as coming through rose-coloured glasses. Conversely, any bad news is automatically deemed to be gospel and generalized to apply to the whole mission. This is incredibly dishonest and hypocritical.

I don't expect any better from the NDP, which is ideologically opposed to reality. But at least they're consistent. I do expect better from Liberals, who have historically shared our commitment to doing the right thing, even if it is tough and involves sacrifice. Mackenzie King and Louis St. Laurent did decent jobs during the Second World War and Korea, respectively.

Afghans are increasingly taking the lead--in combat, in reconstruction, in governance and in law and order. That has always been the aim of the mission and is precisely what is happening. A realistic person knows that there will be stumbles along the way; and that is precisely why we must stay.

It is in Canada's national interest to not let Afghanistan become a breeding ground for terrorism again. Afghans also deserve a chance at the values we enjoy - freedom, human rights, rule of law, opportunity. And, if we abandon Afghanistan to a Taliban fate, who should ever trust us again? Mr. Dion may be willing to accept that. I am not.
Laurie Hawn, MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of National Defence, Ottawa.

Good one Laurie! Who do we listen to, Dion? His position changes daily, first he's for the combat mission, then he's against, now he's for it, sort of.

Where will Waldo pop up next? Maybe in Alberta, to lecture us on "easy money" again.