John Manley - A Liberal Canadians can be proud of

The National Post appears to be posting their editorials the night before on their blog, which is great for political junkies.

The one that caught my eye tonight is John Ivison's "Manley report invokes the spirit of Lester Pearson", which is a surprisingly strong attack against Stephane Dion:

...What's more, the report is clear that to withdraw from a combat role, in favour of training Afghan forces as Mr. Dion advocates, "falsely implies a clear line between training roles and combat activity; in reality, training and mentoring sometimes mean conducting combat operations with them."

Mr. Dion doesn't appear to have much wiggle room but if he was half the politician Mr. Manley is, he would clasp that statement close and say that's what he meant all along -- combat if necessary but not necessarily combat...

(Note: Wednesday's print edition has retitled the same editorial - Liberals best think again.)

John Manley's contribution to this report, and his frank, nonpartisan reflections that were voiced in today's press conference all serve to underscore how far the Liberal party has fallen by comparison.

If John Manley were the leader of the Liberal party today, Stephen Harper would have a worthy opponent - and perhaps Canadians would have a Parliament that actually works in the best interests of the country and the world.

* * * *

Related: CTV - Opposition renews calls for ending combat mission:

...Speaking at a press conference after his panel delivered its report, Manley said that Canada must stand up for the rights of individuals, "of the human security of people whose own governments can't protect them."

"There are times when we have to count, there are times when it matters ... (that) we are prepared to be out there," he continued, "and we're prepared to pay the price because that's what you expect of a country like Canada."

Carleton University professor Elinor Sloan, a supporter of the mission, told CTV Newsnet she found Manley's words to be one of the more eloquent statements on why Canada should stay in Afghanistan...

I quite agree.

Strange that a Liberal made me feel so proud to be a Canadian today.

* * * *

On the other hand, not all Liberals share my enthusiasm . . .


Wednesday Update: The Record shocks me again! Keep our troops in Afghanistan.

The Province - Manley hopes his old party can rise above domestic politics.

Just Right - "military sugarcoating what is going on" .. Newman on Afstan.