Who is popular today?

Former foreign minister Alexander Downer says the sudden and rushed withdrawal of Afghanistan by the Biden administration “brought tears to his eyes”.

Mr Downer said leaving the Afghan people defenceless against the terrorist organisation was a “shocking thing to do” which had many consequences.

“It made America look weak, it made the West look divided and weak, and it gave encouragement to people like Xi Jinping and President Putin,” he told Sky News host Chris Kenny.

Mr Downer said it is possible Russian President Vladimir Putin “wouldn’t have gone ahead” with the invasion of Ukraine if it hadn’t been for the Afghanistan withdrawal.

“But ultimately it’s a human rights tragedy,” he said.