IF something as complex as the "war on terrorism" can be distilled into a single idea, it is this: the civilised world cannot be dictated to by extremists.

When terrorists murdered thousands of people on September 11, the international community had to act.

President George Bush built a global coalition against those who had plotted the mass slaughter before unleashing a military response.

The US-led attacks on Afghanistan enjoyed the support of NATO. They achieved one primary aim - wrecking the al-Qaida network - and one secondary aim - toppling the Taliban regime. So far, the international community is holding to its promise not to abandon post-conflict Afghanistan.

Any war is wretched. Many civilian lives were lost in the bombing raids. Nevertheless, the international community can declare that their response to the worst single terrorist atrocity ever perpetrated was measured and justified.

Unfortunately the West's claim to civilised values has been compromised by the US treatment of those it captured in Afghanistan.

Even though it was the President who defined the military action as a "war on terrorism", those detained were not granted the status of prisoners of war. As such, his administration asserted, they were not covered by the Geneva Convention.

Suddenly, the moral high ground began to crumble beneath the West's feet. Pictures of the prisoners, deprived of all senses in jump suits and goggles and caged in the open, led to accusations of torture.

Despite an international furore - although Tony Blair naturally backed the United States to the hilt - Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said: "I do not feel even the slightest concern over their treatment."

Now the US Government has changed its tune. Taliban fighters will be covered by the Geneva Convention. Al Qaida detainees, however, are still not accorded this right.

The treatment of these prisoners has been a public relations disaster. The West's moral authority will be significantly undermined until all those at Camp X-Ray are held according to civilised international conventions.

Updated: 11:04 Friday, February 08, 2002