1 I guess it's sort of good news if the best the media can come up with is three minor injuries.

2 Jay, I fully realize that minor injuries hardly compares from the fatalities of American soldiers in Afghanistan! (and Iraq) The Canadian government is trying to appease both sides: the "anti-any war" faction and the "we should be supporting our allies" faction knowing full well that the CBC and most of the Canadian media will scream and holler if (or should that be when?) there are casualties. There was a recent bit of orchestrated outrage at revelations that Canadian soldiers were turning those they captured over to the USA; the inevitable jokes about new orders saying they should "take no prisoners" quickly followed. Of course there are also a depressing number of anti-Vietnam war movies shown up here on television as well as a seemingly continuous Michael Moore festival. A bit of public leadership from the government is just too much to expect, I guess. Martin may feel safe in "dither mode" but his short-term strategy is rendering Canada's self-perceived role as "honest broker" on the world stage a joke.