There has been an increase in violence, but only in certain areas. The overall picture is not completely negative. It varies from place to place. We have made significant progress. A government was elected, even though some aspects of it are problematic, but overall, the election was legitimate and has been recognized by various international institutions. Of course, it's always possible to focus on the problems which plague Afghanistan, such as the increase in violence in certain areas and the illegal drug trade, but we cannot tarnish the entire country with the same brush. Certain areas are affected by these problems, particularly the area we are talking about here, and where Canadian soldiers are deployed. The situation is worrisome.
As for corrective measures, it's simply a matter of investing more in development programs and programs which promote political stability. One of the main problems with Enduring Freedom is that it is strictly focused on military action. With the deployment of ISAF in the south, and with Afghanistan Compact, which was presented, we are taking a step in that direction.
As for how to measure progress, Afghanistan Compact contains a whole series of measures on how the situation has evolved, on corruption levels, on services provided to the Afghan population, and so on. The tools are there. For Canada, it's simply a matter of taking advantage of these instruments which have already been created.