The Manley report said we need to contribute to a better governed, stable, and developing Afghanistan in order to have a government that can protect the security and interests of the people. We're paying the salaries of the entire Afghan police force in Kandahar. That will not strengthen the institution responsible for law and order. If we're going to have measures like that in the long term, they don't seem to be fiscally sustainable. Secondly, isn't it damaging to the Afghan government in the long term? If we continue to move in an area where we're providing non-strategic investment, how does that help the Afghan government?
On April 30th, 2009. See this statement in context.