LESS than a month out from the 20th anniversary of the September 11 aircraft hijackings that propelled the world into this perpetual "war on terror", Afghanistan is again in turmoil and again at the centre of global attention.
The headlines out of Kabul are horrific.
The Taliban, whose fanatic hatred of the United States as the Great Satan drives murderous violence orders of magnitude beyond anything America could conceivably be accused of fomenting, is wasting no time in taking revenge on those it accuses of collaborating with the infidels.
Any hopes that the Taliban would prove to be a more moderate force this time around appear to be already lost.
Moderate Islam might succeed in living harmoniously in the West, but the fundamentalists now taking control of Afghanistan preach a way of life that is absolutely at odds with the humanist values of equality - and of the sanctity of life - which we take for granted here in Australia.
Aspects of the American-led response to 9/11 might have been ill-advised.
Invading Iraq on dubious pretences will never be forgotten by America's enemies.
But the hardship that has been at times forced on Afghanistan from outside cannot be used to justify a regime of domestic terror.
Long term, the world cannot allow Afghanistan to descend even further into failed-state status.
Short term, though, the immediate focus must be rescuing as many as possible of those who helped Australian forces in Afghanistan.
And not just those who served as interpreters or aides, but their families.
HELLISH PREDICAMENT
- Afghans here tell of anguish for their families
-
Morrison said some who helped will not be saved
- China slams 'hurried' US withdrawal
Even if the Biden administration was publicly optimistic about the situation in Afghanistan once its troops pulled out, a violent Taliban takeover was easy to predict.
Justifiable security reasons mean Prime Minister Scott Morrison and his government will have kept Australia's retrieval operation low-key.
But disturbing reports have been heard in recent weeks about our government demanding impossible levels of documentation from those wanting - needing - to leave Kabul.
COVID-19 adds an admittedly significant layer of complexity to the rescue effort, but the Australian military surely know the identities of those who helped it.
Our soldiers would not want these brave people and their families left behind in this war's equivalent of the dramatic fall of Saigon in 1975.
We should do whatever it takes to help get them out.
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