John Manley, where have you gone?

Once upon a time, there was a report. And Stephen the Corpulent looked upon the report that had been prepared for him by John the Obedient, and he saw that it was good. Curiously, though, the report that was good suggested some very odd things, such as (emphasis ever so tail-waggingly added):

The Canadian combat mission should conclude when the Afghan National Army is ready to provide security in Kandahar province. Progress to that end will accelerate as training of the ANA intensifies; and without doubt, more military resources from other ISAF countries must be forthcoming. Ending Canada's military contribution in Kandahar is therefore not a matter of setting artificial deadlines in time. It is a matter of making real progress in the context of events on the ground.

And Stephen the Corpulent thanked John the Obedient profusely, and handed him a honking big sack of cash for all his work, then promptly turned around and fucked him over good.

Fortunately, John the Obedient really doesn't give a rat's ass anymore since he did his job and he has his honking big sack of cash, and they all lived happily ever after. Well, except for the Canadian soldiers who are killed in Afghanistan between the old withdrawal date of February 2009 and that new withdrawal date in 2011, because they really will have died for sweet fuck all.

And Stephen the Corpulent is fine with that. Just ask him.