What a warlike young century this has been for Canada.

Our overseas military operations began with the war in Afghanistan, which, all-in, ran from 2002 to 2014.

Along the way, we spent another nine months participating in the 2011 military intervention against the Qadhafi regime in Libya.

And now we're digging in for yet more combat.

As widely expected, Prime Minister Stephen Harper plans to broaden Canada's military commitment to the U.S.-led coalition against the terrorist legions of ISIL, the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.

The original six-month mission is over. Harper's Conservatives aim to extend it up to another 12 months, continuing with ground advice to the Kurdish and Iraqi forces while expanding, without invitation, airstrikes against ISIL strongholds in Syria.

So far, poll after poll has suggested the majority of Canadians strongly supports the war. It remains to be seen whether extending operations into Syria, a snake nest of warring factions and competing interests, will generate second thoughts. But it's bound to complicate the end game.

Though Canada's six fighter aircraft and 70 special troopers are largely symbolic contributions to the coalition, there's little doubt most Canadians are cheering them on. Bombing ISIL into oblivion is the only practical short-term solution to their crimes against humanity, which include mass murders, public beheadings, crucifixions, mutilations, slavery and book burnings.

What this will cost Canada in blood and treasure — as people piratically refer to the price of war these days — is an open question.

So far the Iraq mission has claimed one life, Sgt. Andrew Doiron, who was gunned down by friendly fire, and, according to the Parliamentary Budget Officer, cost between $128 and $166 million.

The budget office estimates the incremental cost of extending the mission for another six months would result in a 12-month cost of between $351 million and $242 million. So, if we're in for a full 18 months of war, presumably the price tag will be at least in the half billion dollar range.

For the record, our 12 years in Afghanistan claimed the lives of 158 Canadian soldiers (including three from Hamilton), more than 2,000 wounded and about $18 billion dollars. The Libyan enterprise cost around $347 million.

It's safe to say the results of the international operations in Afghanistan are mixed. The Taliban government was overthrown, al-Qaida was crushed, and 9/11 was revenged. But the efforts to rebuild a stable state remain an insecure work in chancy progress.

The Libyan adventure, on the other hand, was an unmitigated disaster. Instead of a wacky but compliant dictator, the west is now dealing with a chaotic country that's ravaged by civil war and become a breeding ground for Islamic terrorists.

Humanitarian considerations aside, it's these kind of unforeseen consequences that must cast a shadow of doubt on our war against ISIL.

For example, destroying ISIL will prop up al-Assad's dictatorship in Syria and his alliance with the terror group Hezbollah. Hezbollah are clients of Iran, whose camouflaged presence in the war against ISIL is increasing its sway and reach in Iraq. None of this is good news for Israel, the only open and democratic society in the region.

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One might feel more optimistic about the outcome if there were grounds for confidence in the leadership of the U.S. or our senior allies Britain and France. There isn't, not given the fiasco that flowed from the American victory in the Second Iraq War or the blinkered instigating role France and Britain played in Libya. There's no reason to believe their judgment and foresight is any more dependable now than back then.

Killing ISIL bad guys might be the right and gratifying thing to do. But it's doubtful anybody has a practical plan for the aftermath other than bolting when the blood and treasure bill gets too steep.