Afghanistan committee  Well, I didn't.... Yes, we had agreed on the terms that were in the agreement that was subsequently signed by Mr. Hillier, terms that had been--

Afghanistan committee  Well, I don't believe General Hillier just went off and signed something.

Afghanistan committee  I don't recall at any point someone saying, “Here, Minister, initial this”, but that is the agreement that we had discussed with our officials, and our officials had discussed with Foreign Affairs, and everybody had agreed that that was the agreement we were going to put to the Afghan authorities.

Afghanistan committee  Absolutely.

Afghanistan committee  No, I appreciate that. I'm not trying to avoid my responsibility, but General Hillier was in Afghanistan. He had the opportunity to sign it and he signed it. He didn't phone up and say, “Can I sign it?”

Afghanistan committee  That agreement was approved before he left.

Afghanistan committee  By me, by the department, by Foreign Affairs, by the Government of Canada. That agreement was approved by the Government of Canada.

Afghanistan committee  Fine: by me.

Afghanistan committee  Well, you're trying to draw a sort of picture of whether someone put the agreement before me and said, “Here, initial it.” I can't honestly recall that.

Afghanistan committee  No, that's not the way it is for--

Afghanistan committee  Not necessarily, partly because this is a form of a memorandum of understanding. This is not a formal treaty.

Afghanistan committee  It is, but it's a memorandum of understanding. It is not a treaty and it wouldn't go through the normal treaty process of seals and approvals and all that, cabinet and all that stuff.

Afghanistan committee  It was a totally different type of agreement. The agreement is the same; it's called an MOU. If you look at the other agreements, they are exactly the same.

Afghanistan committee  It may be fair to say that DND was the lead, but it was very clear that it had the full support of the other key department in the Government of Canada in this affair, which is the Department of Foreign Affairs. I am assured that if General Hillier had not signed the agreement, David Sproule as our ambassador would have signed it in his place--in which case, we wouldn't be having this conversation about General Hillier, we would be wondering whether David Sproule was authorized to sign it.

Afghanistan committee  Yes, sir.