-- OTTAWA -- The Prime Minister's appointment of Mr. Manley as head of a five-member group on Canada's future role in the war-torn country beyond February of 2009 prompted deep anger among Mr. Manley's fellow Liberals.**********
"What gives, John?" one of his former advisers asked. "This was one area of weakness of the Conservatives. And he's just thrown Stephen Harper a lifeline in the form of himself."
One e-mail circulating among the party said simply, "Et tu Manley?"
RELATED: Germany steps up... extends Afghan mission
The lower house of Parliament voted for the extension of the military mandate by a convincing 453 to 79, with 48 members abstaining. The vote allows the German military to keep as many as 3,500 troops and six Tornado reconnaissance jets in Afghanistan, part of a larger NATO force of roughly 41,000 in the country.
The proposal was expected to pass, but the sizable margin of victory was a powerful signal both domestically and to the United States and other NATO allies of the government’s ability to sustain the Afghan mission even in the face of strong opposition.
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