This is an admission of the abject failure of Australia's involvement in Afghanistan. The whole point was to make conditions safe for those who lived there. If conditions are now unsafe for the interpreters presumably many others left behind are now at risk. Add to that the death and injury toll of both locals and occupiers as well as the financial expense the whole exercise seems like a waste.

My hunch is that western forces will go back there as the situation deteriorates. Will they need new interpreters? It seems like an endless cycle.

Peter Dutton is the only person to decide what he "must" do. I doubt that he would feel that interfering with the immigration minister's duties is a must; he is the defence minister. Afghanistan has nothing to do with the defence of Australia, nor do foreigners pathetically described as "angels". Those people did what they did, foolishly not knowing the history of outside meddling by superpowers in their country. They picked the wrong side, and must now pay for it.

Our interference in Vietnam saw the arrival of boatloads of illegals arriving from that country. Geography makes it harder for Afghans to pull the same stunt. Let's keep it that way; and in future, refrain from getting involved in shitehole countries where we can make no difference whatever.

"getting involved in shitehole countries where we can make no difference whatever"
You`ve been there I take it?

ttbn,
As long as Dutton serves as a cabinet minister, the PM decides what he must do.
And anywhere where Australia's defence force spends nearly twenty years has a lot to do with Australia.

You yourself seem quite ignorant of the history of Afghanistan; the Taliban are themselves the result of Pakistani meddling.

We should not betray our allies to their deaths - it really is that simple.

Aidan,
Problem is how to tell ally from foe ? What can we do about keeping Australia safe from the enemy within, the Leftists ?

The whole sorry mess provides a lesson on what sort of places we
should not get involved with.
Look at it since Alexander the Great's time foreign armies have had a hard time of it.
In the 18th & 19th centuries the British Army had a hard time.
It has had a history of internal wars between war lords.
It is still in a civil war, what changed ?
It is an Islamic country so nothing will change to improve the status
of women, one of the reasons for being in the country.
They are classic no-hopers.
Is there an Islamic country you would like to live in ?

Individual,
If there's an enemy within, it's those who are trying to divide us. That's not the leftists!

Agree!
Alan B.

Hi Bazz,

UAE (United Arab Emirates) is a very safe
country to travel to. But I'm not sure that
I would like to live there. But then I
wouldn't like to live in the United States
either.

True Foxy, but while places like the Eremites and Saudi Arabia have
all the outward appearances of being modern societies don't have a
glass of wine on one of their aircraft with the Middle East being
the next refueling stop or as one English lady found herself in gaol
for drinking alcohol.
None of them are "safe" from our point of view as the law is Sharia.
No ifs and buts around that.

That's not the leftists!
Aidan & Alan B,
Don't give up your day jobs because you'd never make it as comedians !

individual,

Why - you're getting there!

It's a pity that a few small-minded posters prefer to whine about other posters' opinions rather than analysing the subject and giving their own opinions on it, criticising or applauding the author, if they feel the need, instead of demonstrating what we already know about them - that they are pathetic bullies (invariably of the Left) who hate freedom of speech and thought unless it is their own.

The writer obviously has little understanding of Peter Dutton's history on asylum seekers. It has been Dutton, more than any other Australian politician, who has driven the cruelty, the illegality and the inhumanity of our current asylum seeker policies. And this includes Howard, Reith, Vanstone, Ruddock, Abbott and Morrison, all hard-hearted and ideologically opposed to even considering humane options. These people, especially Dutton, all opposed asylum for Hazaras who were usually the most supportive of all Afghans to the invading Western forces. Their loyalty meant nothing to these politicians. Many have been sent back to danger. Others are still languishing here in cruel and indefinite limbo. Most of the interpreters now in danger are Hazaras. Peter Dutton's heart will remain the same cold unfeeling stone it's always been. Appealing to his decency, when he clearly doesn't have any, is a misguided exercise in futility.

ttbn,

You shouldn't be so hard on yourself or individual.

Chin up. Everyone is entitled to their opinions
after all - even Lefties (smile). Free speech and
all that.

PS: And stop whining. It's not a good look.

I’m totally with ttbn on this one, and Taswegian.

Between the two posters there is nothing more to add except repeating the painful truth.

And I’d like to add though, a reminder of the gutless campaign which is raging now attempting to strip medals from our war heroes who put their life on the line, and are now cannon fodder in their own country.
So, so much like the aftermath of Vietnam, when our returning troops were ostracised for their effort and sacrifice in that ludicrous war.

History simply repeats, repeats and repeats.

Dan.

Why - you're getting there!
Foxy,
Don't try ry to be another comedian, you're already a joke !

individual,

Why Thank You you sweet man.

Jokes have meaning.

At least with Malaya & South Korea, the locals were man enough to protect themselves once the communists had been stopped. Israel did it all for themselves with the Muslims, with just a little material help. Efforts to help these people stay free have been of value. The Iraqis & Afghans do not appear to be worth the effort, as they are simply not prepared to protect themselves.

We should learn from these experiences that some people are worth helping, & some aren't. Lets hope this stops us wasting any of our lives again in "humanitarian" wars. We must stay out of the middle east & Africa at all costs.

Yes we owe those who hitched their wagon to us some future help, but if we are going to bring them to Oz we must make sure it will not just be new dole funded gangs to fight the African or Islander gangs. Perhaps a 3 year farm labour indenture could be required, solving our farm labour for a short while at least. They don't have to come if they don't like the terms.