Here are five sobering takeaways from the crisis in Afghanistan

One of the worst global political situations in years continues to unfold in Afghanistan, as President Joe Biden announced that he stood by his decision to withdraw from the country in spite of the unrest and desperation that has developed over the past few days.

But as Taliban forces continue to capture key cities in the country at an unprecedented pace, there are some sobering political takeaways from the chaos in Afghanistan. One of the most alarming is that women and girls are now more at risk under the Taliban’s power. Taliban forces are known for being especially cruel and oppressive to women, so lawmakers are debating who should be responsible for protecting Afghani women and children.

“There must be an immediate expansion of the refugee program for Afghan women seeking asylum, whose lives are in jeopardy as the Taliban resumes control and turns back the clock on 20 years of progress for women’s rights. A failure to act now will seal their fate, and the generation of girls who grew up with freedoms, education and dreams of building their country’s future will die with them,” Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (Democrat, New Hampshire) said.

But there are four other lessons to be learned that are just as chilling. And one opens the door for a possible increased Chinese or Russian presence in the country.