Not news: PM Harper "an Afghan skeptic"/"Hurl time"

The Globe and Mail seems to think it's onto some hot poop from an (as far too often) anonymous source:

...
Though it’s widely believed that public opinion is all that keeps Mr. Harper from extending the military mission, the Prime Minister is in fact an Afghan skeptic, according to one person who has worked with him on the issue. Many in his government and the military favour extending the mission, but not the PM – and not just for political reasons. He wants results.

For almost two years, Mr. Harper has harboured deep doubts about the Afghan mission. He worries that extending it would mean throwing good money after bad, and, more importantly, lives with it. After years in which progress has been elusive, he doubts the impact Canada can have...

Actually Mr Harper has been a "skeptic" for well over two years--see this post from December 2007, especially the end:

Prime minister grumpy about Afstan

And now, shamefully, the government is seeking cover from the departing Dutch (same Globe story):

...
It was only the possibility of damage to Canada’s reputation as a North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally that might have changed Mr. Harper’s mind about extending the military mission beyond next year, one source said. Indeed, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and British Foreign Secretary David Miliband appealed to Canada’s sense of responsibility to its allies last week when they publicly asked Mr. Harper to keep Canadian troops in Afghanistan past next July’s withdrawal deadline.

But with the Dutch now planning to withdraw and others expressing doubts, Canada can hardly be singled out for its exit strategy...

Some sense of responsibility. Hurl time.