I think there are implications. And we saw, as other countries debated whether they would stay or go, that it doesn't help for those who are fighting for democracy and freedom on the ground. It does make it a little difficult.
We can't solve all of the world's problems, but we see from the results of polling across the country--you know it from talking to your own constituents, I'm sure--that Canadians don't see Canada as a spectator nation. They see Canada as a participant nation. The question is, are we living up to that self-image? We need a bit of a reality check on where our contributions are and what we're doing.
Afghanistan, as John has said, has put us back at the table. We are there in all of the three Ds. We are there in every way. The presence is real. We now have voice because we are putting our lives and our values on the line. It does give us respect in the international community, and I think that's valuable, because you want the Canadian voice to be shared. We need to be able to comment, and to criticize NATO and our allies in it. If we believe in a multilateral approach and those organizations, the UN and what not, we need to be able to criticize it, but you can't do that if you're not a participant, if you're not there.
Now that we are at the table, it gives us our voice back to really engage, not just to solve the problems of Afghanistan but to deal with some of the issues of the international community and whether those mechanisms, such as the UN and NATO, are as effective and efficient as they can be. We have a responsibility--and now a right, I think--to engage in that conversation.