Out with the old...

Italy, like Canada, has a new prime minister. Like Canada, there’s a sense of out with the old, in with the new going on. But here’s a common sense quotation from Italy’s Romano Prodi that you’ll never hear escape Stephen Harper’s lips:

We consider the war and occupation in Iraq a grave error that hasn’t solved – but has complicated – the problem of security. Romano Prodi, after being sworn in as Italy’s prime minister

Italy, along with Australia, was one of the important cogs in the so-called coalition of the willing that Bush assembled during the build up to war. Another Iraq-war supporter is John Howard, Australia’s prime minister, who will address Canada’s parliament later today. Will he call Iraq a grave mistake? He ought to, as should Harper, but don’t hold your breath.

Stephen Harper was a keen supporter of the war and the written record makes it very clear that had Harper been prime minister in 2002 – 2003, Canada would be at war today in Iraq.