With respect, I don't think we disagree at all. I strongly support the military activities of Canada in Afghanistan. I even support in general terms the increase in the defence budget. I wish it had been debated. I wish there had been a broad discussion of priorities at the time, and I hope you might be able to do that now in the committee.
There's no doubt that development can be wasted unless there is security. The question is whether we would be getting more security or getting better development, more durable development, if there had been a broader perspective in the development programs that we're necessary partners to the security investments. I'm not suggesting pulling money away from Defence for Foreign Affairs and development. I would look elsewhere in department budgets. I know it's a hard time to do that, and I don't propose to do it today, but I would look elsewhere for those sorts of things.
I think our international presence is essential. I regard the increase in defence spending as a good first step, but we're undervaluing the investment we made in Defence if we don't back it up in associated fields, in my view.