The Afghanistan syndrome: A great country or what?

Words of my own fail:

A Canadian soldier awarded a Medal of Military Valour for braving enemy fire in Afghanistan is angry after he says was jumped from behind and taunted [emphasis added] by four men who beat him up in a Morrisburg [eastern Ontario] bar on the weekend.

Master Cpl. Collin Fitzgerald, who was awarded a Medal of Valour for heroic actions in Afghanistan by Governor-General Michalle Jean on Feb. 19, had his foot broken in three places and needed 10 stitches to close a cut above his right eye. The 27-year-old soldier also suffered a broken nose and two black eyes in the attack, which occurred after midnight Saturday morning.

Master Cpl. Fitzgerald said Monday he had only been in the bar about 20 minutes when he was struck from behind.

[...]

OPP Const. Paul Murphy said a 21-year-old Morrisburg man has been charged with aggravated assault. The man has since been released from custody on a promise to appear in court. Since he has yet to appear in court, his name was not released, police said [emphasis added].

Const. Murphy said more charges are expected to be laid against the 21-year-old. Police also expect to lay charges against several other suspects, he said.

After serving eight months in Afghanistan, Master Cpl. Fitzgerald said, "not in a million years" did he expect to be jumped in a Morrisburg bar. He also never expected to be shown such disrespect.

"Ignorance is bliss. They obviously have no idea or any clue what the hell is going on over there," he said. "We weren't just sitting in a camp. We're getting shot at. People are dying. Buddies of mine I've seen get blown up. They really don't have any clue, and they don't know how lucky they have it here in Canada."..

One has a very good idea how the Canadian criminal justice system will punish anyone brought to trial. How much national media coverage and commentary will this outrage get?

After this?

Update: The attack did get front page coverage in the Ottawa Citizen. However no story in the Globe and Mail, National Post, Toronto Star or on the CBC and CTV websites (as far as I can see). Canada.com does have it.

Am I being too cynical, but might there not have been national coverage if Master Cpl. Fitzgerald had attacked a civilian?

Upperdate: Audio of interview with Master Cpl. Fitzgerald this morning on CFRA, Ottawa, is here.