The first six months of Stephen Harper's government, the storyline goes, have been epitomized by refreshing candour and clear-headedness. From his "we won't cut-and-run" pronouncements on Canada's mission to Afghanistan to (especially) his staunch support for Israel in the Middle East conflict, the Prime Minister has repeatedly been praised in these pages and elsewhere for resisting the equivocation of his predecessors, whatever the consequences.

Sadly, there appears to be one caveat: Harper's clarity and decisiveness only apply when he doesn't really have to make any meaningful decisions.

The PM's pro-Israel stance may be bold insofar as it offends the sensitivities of Muslims and some liberals. But as many of the same people praising him are usually quick to point out, nobody outside Canada much cares what we have to say about foreign conflicts in which we're not directly involved; switching from being neutral or pro-Palestinian to pro-Israeli doesn't change that. As for Afghanistan, ramped-up rhetoric and surprise drop-ins with the troops are useful PR strategies - but they don't have a whole lot to do with actual policy, since he's merely done the expected and continued the Liberals' deployment of troops.

Elsewhere, the PM's brashness has mostly been evidenced in his endless battle with the Ottawa press gallery, which he appears to have identified as a chance to flex his muscle without consequences.

Meanwhile, a domestic situation with very real potential consequences continues to fester. And rather than display all that bravado we've heard so much about, Harper and his Cabinet have been keeping their heads down and hoping nobody notices them.

Response to a court order this week that negotiations over disputed land in Caledonia, Ont., be suspended until native protesters stop occupying it has boiled down to a debate between Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty and provincial opposition leader John Tory -- as it has through most of the lengthy land claims dispute. While McGuinty's government has taken a conciliatory approach, appealing the ruling in hope of continuing negotiations it believes are progressing, Tory is loudly criticizing the precedent being set by showing "disregard for the rule of law."

Neither McGuinty nor Tory is known for being especially brash. Both are the sorts of mushy centrists that Harper's supporters tend to thumb their noses at. But both have at least had the fortitude to take and defend positions that could blow up in their faces. Tory has even gone so far as to make it one of his bread-and-butter issues, using it to define the differences between himself and McGuinty.

As for Harper, he's been all too happy to let the provincial politicians duke it out. Virtually silent for most of the dispute, he apparently signalled to McGuinty in a telephone conversation Tuesday night that he supports his position; federal Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice said much the same thing publicly on Wednesday. But even so, they don't have enough courage in their convictions to actually join the provincial government in its appeal of Judge Marshall's decision.

It's easy to see why Ottawa is less than eager to plunge headfirst into this debate. Caledonia is a minefield. As even Tory acknowledged in an interview this week, there is "genuine concern" that "if you stand up strongly for the rule of law that could lead to some consequences that all of us would like to avoid." Conversely, allowing the occupiers to stay indefinitely will prove a disastrous decision if tensions with non-native locals lead to serious violence, or if violent copycat situations arise elsewhere.

But that's the sort of tough choice that leaders have to make and take responsibility for. And however much the federal Tories wish this were a purely provincial matter, it is not. Land disputes typically fall to Ottawa, which is why federal negotiators are in Caledonia. And only the feds have the power to call in the army -- which is what may have to happen if matters on the occupied land come to a head.

At this point, Harper is hanging both provincial parties out to dry. John Tory suffers because he's now isolated, his federal cousins refusing to back him up. Meanwhile, McGuinty is stuck taking 95% of the heat for a decision on which the feds should, by right, be sharing equal responsibility.

On Wednesday, Tory called on McGuinty to "gather up his strength and show his mettle as a leader." It's time for Harper to do likewise.