National Defence committee  First of all, if you take the case of media--because as you know, I have more than an occasional contact there--the old rule of thumb was that if it bleeds it leads, and that determines, of course, the stories that go on the screen, and the quiet stories don't get on the screen.

National Defence committee  In defence of Professor Maloney, in the northern part--

National Defence committee  The northern part of the country has been making good progress, in terms of both stability and then in the development that can follow once stability is in place.

National Defence committee  Let me give you some numbers. The average GDP per capita in Afghanistan is approximately $228 U.S. per annum. The revenue base of the Afghan government, according to the Asian Development Bank in 2004, as we've mentioned, was a total of about $625 million, of which $300 million came from the normal tax and other revenues to the Afghan government and another $325 million in direct assistance, and on top of that of course was the indirect assistance of the various programs conducted by international organizations.

National Defence committee  Well, the answer to the second half of the question is, of course they do. The answer to the first half of the question is that if we withdrew the Canadian battle group from the brigade in the south, it would make the position of the rest of the brigade perhaps untenable, because in Kandahar we sit on a line of communications that supplies the British battle group in Helmand province.

National Defence committee  When you look at the military, I think you're dealing with a very distinct social organization, and the individuals, in terms of morale, depend heavily upon each other because they're dependent on each other for their lives. The intimacy of that social relationship is far more profound than anything we can find in civilian life.

National Defence committee  Mr. Chairman, to respond to that question, the number of main battle tanks that have been added to the force has been said to be between four and fifteen. Regarding tactics, the army has taught for years, based on its own very lengthy experience, that you must have a combined arms battle team that consists of infantry, artillery, and heavy armour.

National Defence committee  Mr. Chairman, as General Evraire has remarked, I had a hand in the drafting of this, so I will not present an independent testimony. I will assist General Evraire during the course of any questions the committee may have.