Troops out now! The Olympics are coming!

Time out! Stop fighting! The downhill ski competition starts in an hour!

Canada's mission in Afghanistan could be over in 2010, according to he latest announcement from Defence Minister Gordon O'Connor. It's not because the Taliban will have given up by then or even because of mounting casualties.

Nope. We have to protect the home front.

It's a sad commentary on the state of the world when a country has to devote the bulk of its armed forces to protecting an international sporting competition. Nonetheless, another NATO nation will have to step up to the plate in Kandahar when the Winter Olympics comes to Vancouver.

Our men and women in uniform will be busy making sure Al Queda or its associates don't stockpile dynamite in the stands at Whistler.

At least now we have our exit strategy.

Tags: Gordon O'Connor, Troops out now, tanks for the memories, Afghanistan Mission, 2010 Olympics