He says Canada punched above its weight in the international military effort to oust Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi.
And he says NATO's success proves soldiers, not diplomacy, were the only way to end his bloody regime.
"For the Gadhafis of this world pay no attention to the force of argument," he told around 100 soldiers gathered at the NATO military base in southern Italy.
"The only thing they get is the argument of force itself. And that you have delivered in a cause that is good and right."
But Harper told the troops the fighting isn't over yet.
Canada is committed to participating in the UN-sanctioned mission until the end of September, and officials aren't ruling out an extension.
Harper says Libyans still face a formidable challenge, both in avoiding reprisals and rebuilding their country.
The prime minister is in Europe for international talks focused on planning for Libya's future.
"Without your commitment, your bravery and your actions, there would be no reason to meet later today," he told the troops gathered in a hangar, a fighter jet positioned for a backdrop.
"Nothing to talk about, nothing to plan for, no hope to offer the Libyan people."
Canada joined the coalition backing the rebels in March, following the UN's approval of a mission designed to protect civilians from further abuses at the hands of Gadhafi's regime.
Harper said the former Libyan dictator has bankrolled terrorism the world over and said Canadians still condemn him for his role in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, which killed two Canadians and 268 others.
He said a world without Gadhafi is a better place.
"Because you held the ring while Libyans fought their own fight with their oppressor, the Libyan people are now free to choose," Harper said.
"This is the best of Canada’s military tradition."
Dubbed Operation Unified Protector, the NATO mission is overseen by Canadian Lieutenant-General Charles Bouchard, who personally briefed Harper earlier today at the base.
The Canadian Forces are contributing 650 personnel along with CF-18 fighter jets, aerial tankers, a warship and surveillance planes.
So far, Canada has dropped 550 bombs on the country and the jets have flown over 1,000 sorties, according to statistics provided Tuesday.
Overall, a total of 20,980 sorties, including 7,886 strike sorties have been conducted by NATO troops.
With rebels claiming to be closing in on the final Gadhafi strongholds, some experts suggest keeping NATO troops involved much longer shouldn't be necessary.
But some critics are already questioning why NATO remains, citing the fact that civilians no longer seem to be at risk in many centres.
But others say Gadhafi can't be counted out yet and his loyalists could still mount a campaign or launch guerilla-style warfare.
On Wednesday, a man claiming to be one of his sons vowed to fight until the death. Gadhafi's son Seif al-Islam insists no regime loyalists would surrender to the rebels.
Meanwhile, Libya is now struggling with a return to normal life. Water, sanitation services and medicine are in short supply in the nation's capital.
The rebels, united under the National Transitional Council, need to turn towards building civil society and organizing their bands of supporters into national security forces.
Origin
Source: Huffington
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