Scott Smith

We've had nine years of Conservative leadership now, so for the most part ... Canada and the international investment community knows what to expect from a Conservative government.

There's still questions as to whether Trudeau can effectively run the economy in that deficit position and then bring back a balanced budget in year four.

If there is decision now to stay, it will look like an act of desperation or of panic, and as a result of Kunduz, if it had been made much earlier, it would look like an act of solidarity with a government with which we have a partnership agreement.

The idea will be to keep them out of combat operations as much as possible -- but they will be able to hold the Afghan hands a little bit longer.

If Republicans truly want to expand their base and broaden the tent, they have to avoid these kinds of situations, there's no doubt that Republican candidates would be better off not being drawn into this kind of dialogue. They had nothing to do with Indiana.

I think right now his intention is to stick to it. That's what he would like to do, and we know that is the legacy he would like to leave -- as the president who ended two wars, but I think there is a very strong bipartisan consensus in Washington and on the Hill that it may be worth reconsidering this decision.

Ten years ago, a Karzai visit to Washington would have been greeted with the same kind of welcome and excitement and positivity that this first visit from President Ghani has.