OTTAWA - Lawmakers voted on Wednesday to extend CanadaÂ’s combat mission in Afghanistan to 2009, on the same day a female Canadian soldier died in a major battle with Taleban militants in the war-torn country.After six hours of debate in the House of Commons late Wednesday, Prime Minister Stephen HarperÂ’s motion to keep Canadian troops in Afghanistan for two years beyond their planned February 2007 exit was passed 149 votes to 145.
| Once again Harper scores a quiet, clear victory in the House. Amazing what competence and a little humility can do. |