Thank you, Chair. Thank you to the panel.
I'm not a lawyer, just an old policeman. Sitting here today, I am listening to a few truisms. Number one is that if you have two lawyers, you will get three opinions. I think we've heard that. Also, police officers tend to be kind and gentle people; they don't yell at you. And there is a difference between an investigation and an inquisition, and I think some of what we're trying to do here is almost an inquisition.
In looking at the material you've provided for us, I think Madame Lalonde has brought something forward that is important. If you go to the 2007 agreement, I think paragraph 10 puts the obligation on people who have an allegation to take it to the Government of Afghanistan. I think all of what we've seen—as reflected, I believe, in the brigadier-general's comments—reflects the common understanding that the Government of Afghanistan bears responsibility for providing Afghans with...and so on and so forth.
So when Madame Lalonde asked whether Canadians could have been charged, I would note that there's never been an allegation that I'm aware of in which Canadians have ever been accused of torturing detainees. In that regard, when we look at all of the things that are going on here—and I think you've illustrated that the Geneva Convention is between nations at war with uniformed forces—all of the agreements that we have are one-sided only. We appreciate that; we understand it and know it's important for us. But these agreements don't apply to the insurgents; they don't abide by any of these terms and conditions.
Certainly, when we look at all of the things that have come before us here today, and the questions you're being asked, I would ask—whether or not you can answer it—if there are any areas dealing with the transfer of Afghan detainees to Afghan authorities where Canadians would, ultimately, be held liable for what they do.
If people follow the rules that are here—and it seems to me that we have obligations—the ultimate obligation is that of the Afghan authorities for the handling of the detainees. I'm wondering if you can expand on that or give us your response.