Angry in the Great White North

From May 17, 2006, when Garth Turner was currying favour with his boss, Conservative Stephen Harper:

Sure, Afghanistan is a long ways off. But that seems about the right distance away to be fighting intolerance, religious extremism, bigotry, hatred and an untilted holy war that will only result in enduring suffering for everyone. It is here that guys from Oakville and Halifax and Regina are wearing Canadian flag shoulder patches and heading out each day to shoot Taliban. That may not be our image of Canadians, but we are blessed to have warriors with resolve, conviction and the training to be damn good at what they do.

From September 21, 2007, when Garth Turner was currying favour with his boss, Liberal Stephane Dion:

Whether you support the Afghan mission or not, you must agree our role in the world has changed drastically because of it. The monument seems a tad quaint and idealistic today, with a prime minister in office who seems more concerned with the pointy end of battle than restoring the role of the diplomat-soldier.

Will it change back, I wonder? Will we once again assume global leadership in dispute resolution and maintaining the peace between warring factions? Or is Canada now viewed as part of a western military machine?

Funny how what was a blessing is now scorned as being part of a western military machine.

I guess this is what we call an "evolution in thinking" by one of Canada's most flexible politicians.