Yes, that's right, sir. Just to bring the foreign minister to ask a question, which he's made a public statement about on Afghanistan--which is answered--that can be done at a later date. The question is, why are we not going to this motion? Everybody on this committee recognizes the importance of Canadian deployment and the changes that have occurred in the region and to our national security, which is being impacted. I can tell you, sir, there have been huge changes, and there's lots going on. We need to discuss that here. Bring in the departmental people.
If you read the motion and look at the intent of it, even Mr. Dewar and Mr. Rae would agree that this is so significant, so important to our security, to our deployment, to our mission in Afghanistan and how the engagement is going to continue, how we're going to stop the terrorism. I can tell you that all those banned organizations are now opening their doors to terrorism because they know that there's been a change from military rule to civilian rule, and they're having serious difficulties. I'd like to see the departmental people come here and tell us what is going on. Are they engaged? What is our high commission doing over there? I can tell you that this is so significant and so important that this must be the first motion of this committee that we deal with.
I'd like to urge and request the engagement of all of my colleagues on this committee: let's address the issue. We have now formed an Afghanistan committee, and Mr. Rae is a member of that. That is an important committee, and that committee needs to hear this. He's a member of that foreign affairs committee and he needs to be engaged in that, and we must bring the departmental people here so we can hear them, listen to them, and move forward on the agenda, which is significant to our country. It's not just political games within the parties. The foreign minister made a statement to clarify....
You want the foreign minister here? By all means, but let's not leapfrog over such important issues of national interest and national security and our mission in Afghanistan, Mr. Chair.