Mr. Chair, this is not what the resolution says. It says that the committee will be informed every two weeks as to the state and progress of the intervention.
I understand that you do not wish to place the military in danger by telling us a week in advance, perhaps before a large gathering of journalists, that we will be at such and such a place to conduct a secret operation. I know that you cannot do that. However, every other week, you could provide us with information on the progress of the situation. At present we are learning absolutely nothing.
What we do learn, Mr. Minister, is very worrying. You know the three Ds, which are in Englih: security, development and governance. Well, I think that the three Ds are being turned into: diversion of the mission, departure from the mission objectives and disaster in losses of life. Soldiers are dying every week, and we do not know exactly what has happened these past two weeks. Nor do we understand the progress of the mission. So when we shift from the three Ds, security, development and governance, to diversion, disaster and departure, I think that there is a serious danger that you absolutely have to do something about.
And please tell me what you think of the statement by General Richards, whom I myself met in Kabul. According to him, if things do not improve in the next six months, 70% of the population will give its support to the Taliban. We will lose the battle. And to win the battle you have to inform Canadians and Quebeckers of what is happening so that they can see that there is a certain progress and that the sacrifices imposed on our soldiers are not in vain. If you do not do that, we will see each other in six months and see how much things have deteriorated.
So I would like your reaction to these comments.