Yes, Mr. Chair, I will do so quickly.
The motion is that the committee begin without delay to investigate and study Canada's preparation and plans for withdrawal of Canadian Forces from Afghanistan in 2011 and Canada's whole-of-government efforts and plans in Afghanistan post-2011, in light of the fact that the end of Canada's combat mission in Afghanistan is quickly approaching in 2011 and that the committee was constituted to specifically study the mission's purpose and changing nature in a whole-of-government context; and that the policy relevance and importance of these plans are clearly of immediate concern and primary importance.
That goes to questions that are of the greatest concern to our NATO allies and non-NATO allies. They are certainly of the greatest concern to the Canadian Forces and members who are obviously aware of what's happening in 2011. They would appreciate some guidance on the mission.
Frankly, looking forward to something productive is a lot better use of this committee's time than looking backward. We're all going to bring witnesses. The witnesses are going to say, frankly, what we expect them to say. Anybody who is surprised at Mr. Champ's testimony shouldn't be. He's an employee of two organizations that are fighting our government, so of course he's going to say that.
This is just a desire to get back to what the committee should be about, which is studying the mission and the conduct of the mission moving forward to 2011, and the future of this mission. That's of far more importance, in our view, than is engaging in what we think is a partisan political witch hunt.