Thank you, Chair, and thank you to our guests.
To quote from the Manley report for Mr. Obhrai, the first line in the introduction is, “Afghanistan is at war and Canadians are combatants”--just for the record, to clarify exactly what is going on around here.
I just want to say to two of our panellist guests that I understand your expertise, your background. This panel, however—and it's a question of relevance—is looking at CIDA's participation in Afghanistan and making sure it investigates possible approaches to establishing a lasting peace. I appreciate your expertise from a military background.
I also know that your organization is a recipient of funds from the government and from NATO. I think that's important to underline because of what we're trying to do at this committee, different from the defence committee. You're receiving $500,000 from the government to give it advice. You're shaking your head, so I guess I'm wrong in that. But I have the contract here to the Conference of Defence Associations for your contract date, 2007, and it is until, interestingly enough, 2011. It's a multi-year contract to provide advice.
I just want to say this for the record, because I wasn't aware that you were coming to committee. I say this with the utmost respect; I'm the grandson of two World War I veterans--