The closest model we have right now is Bosnia. We were there 14 years. Bosnia was simple compared to Afghanistan, so I would be very hesitant to put a date or timeframe on this. It's going to be at least a decade, and we've already been there five years.
We were in Cypress from about 1964 to 1993, so we can handle protracted conflict. The question is.... You've anticipated my next Maclean's article, actually, which deals with exit strategy. We've never had an exit strategy in Canada. We've never had to conceptualize one before. We've gone along with the flow, hopped on board with another international institution and let them do the thinking for us. In this case we can't do that, which means we have to mature and start thinking strategically. What do we want? What are the conditions going to be?
The main problem, as I see it, is the Afghan security forces, primarily the police. That's a real problem. The Afghan National Army is marginally better. Those two institutions definitely need work, because they're the ones who are going to handle the security.
Now, I've said that, but let's recognize that you have a Canadian general who's in charge of police transformation there. They've just initiated a program to try to work on this. This will take time. There is no easy fix. As I've pointed out, time is of a different construct in Afghani society.
Again, one of the initial reasons we're there is to form this shield so that these other efforts can take place behind it. At some point, that shield will have to go away and be replaced with an Afghan shield. In terms of being masters of their own destiny, they already are up to a great deal in a number of areas, but not in all areas. That's one of the reasons we're there.