It was poorly thought through on Biden's behave. Apart from longer term security issues not properly taken into account, there was an enormous opportunity missed to elevate the place of women, not only in Afghanistan but for many developing countries. The status of women is not purely a humanitarian concern but key to both security and prosperity in our world.

Biden was either oblivious of the opportunity presented or simply that his bone head was made up on the subject and advice was dismissed.

What was astonishing to me was low volume of voices from women's rights advocates in the U.S. for the plight of Afghan women.