I would agree with your last observation that the objective has not been that clear. But that said, I think we are seeing convergence of both Canadian and U.S. interests in the region. Canada has announced that it's going to withdraw troops in 2011, and everything I hear coming out of Washington today suggests that the Americans don't want to be there for that much longer. I think President Obama is all too aware that this is a quagmire.
The focus has really shifted from trying to have a military solution that would obliterate the Taliban and al-Qaeda forces in the region to one of some sort of political settlement that would stabilize politics in Afghanistan to allow for a withdrawal of NATO forces. That may well mean, as many have argued, engaging in dialogue with those elements of the Taliban not closely associated with al-Qaeda to come to some kind of political arrangement that, at the end of the day, Afghanis themselves have to live with and can live with.
Again, by creating a forum that is led by skilled, eminent practitioners, wise persons who have credibility in the region, there's an opportunity to engage in dialogue with elements of the political equation in Afghanistan and also Afghanistan's neighbours in a constructive way.