...there may well be another way to execute the military component of the mission. Change and evolution are not bad things when driven by a rational assessment of mission requirements. The opposition calls for military abandonment do not appear to meet this rational threshold.

The trick for the Liberals, demonstrate opposition, while also laying out a plan beyond "out in 09". If there is a detailed vision, then Harper doesn't enjoy the pro-Afghanistan landscape all to himself- there are alternatives, different paths for "success". I believe it is politically risky to assume that Harper is on the wrong side of Afghanistan, and he will pay a price. A closer look at opinion shows enough core support for Harper to fair quite well, or at the least not suffer the damage many of us assume. In a two-party system, Harper would be quite vulnerable, but Canada's fractured politcal system allows for less than impressive support to translate into viability.