Our Departure from Kabul, two different viewpoints

On this occasion, we will hear from two opinion leaders with differing views.

At a time of initial universal condemnation of the US President, Tom Switzer, arguably Australia’s leading Conservative Writer, published in the Financial Review a piece arguing that President Biden made the correct decision. Whenever the US and Allies departed, there was likely to be chaos and possible loss of life. Tom was formerly Opinion Editor at The Australian and is now Executive Director of the Centre for Independent Studies in Sydney. Whilst at The Australian, Tom was strongly opposed to the invasion of Iraq whilst his newspaper strongly opined in favour of the war.

John McCarthy AO is a former Senior Australian Diplomat, at various times High Commissioner to India and Australian Ambassador to the US, Japan and several other Asian Countries. He is now senior adviser at Asialink. In a powerful piece published by Asialink,  John argued that “Australia’s messy exit from Kabul is likely to be recorded in history as a moment of national ignominy”. And that in our manner of leaving we lost both credibility of leadership and capacity to argue from high ground .

After both Tom and John have spoken, there is certain  to be a lively Q and A session!