Pre-Operation Medusa, we had a situation where many of those opposed to the Government of Afghanistan and determined in growing numbers to wrench power from legitimate authorities began to appear in the Panjwai-Zharey area. Through the early days, as we saw that evolving, our forces came under attack.
As you have heard already, there was evidence of a significant presence, to the point where a very large number of Taliban adopted a more conventional approach as compared with the earlier insurgent tactics they had adopted. They effectively, forcefully, evicted thousands of residents of the area and left them homeless, to fend for themselves. The situation deteriorated to the point where, from a military perspective, from a coalition perspective, and from an Afghan national perspective, something had to be done: (a) to demonstrate ISAF resolve, and (b) to demonstrate to the people of Afghanistan that we were prepared to fight on their behalf to support them. The results of Operation Medusa, from a military perspective, have been well-reported in the media.
Since then, what we have seen certainly through a particular sector is a large swath in which there are now Canadian Forces personnel and Afghanistan national security forces. There is a humanitarian focus; there is the possibility of reconstruction. I could cite the same figures I cited earlier--100,000 metres of irrigation ditches cleaned and done. There's Route Summit, which will open the region to commerce. What you should see in the coming weeks and months, I would hope, is the PRT and Region South reporting very positively on concrete projects and results they have been able to achieve as a result of the successes in Operation Medusa.