Thank you very much.
Mr. Dallaire, thank you for coming today, and thank you for your recent book on the child soldier. It's going to open up a great debate in this world that we have.
You had mentioned that Dr. Friedman had talked to you about the 102,000 who had passed away as well, and that's an extremely valid point. We know there are certain individuals who have committed suicide after their return from Bosnia or Afghanistan, yet we don't seem to mention them. We mention the 152. I think you make a valid point for them, and I thank you very much for that.
As you know, military life is a culture. Once you get in there and you do it for many years, it gets into your DNA. It's your way of life. You and your family are all part of it. And then, for whatever reason, you are medically released, even though you don't wish to be released, and then you say, “Now what do I do?” Even though they can offer retraining and everything else, you've lost the camaraderie and the spirit. In some cases I've heard someone say, “I've lost being a man. My children don't look up to me anymore.” There's nothing wrong with being a commissionaire, but it's not the same as the military and that kind of thing. So they feel kind of left out. Not that it detracts from them—I don't mean that--but basically, they feel not as worthy.
I just wonder what you can recommend to us to encourage these individuals. What can we do not only to improve their psychological way of living but also to acknowledge the fact that they may no longer be in the military but they still have a role and a purpose?