Afghanistan is one of the most amazing countries in the world. I have been many times but not since the Russians invaded. I have no desire to go now and get my head cut off.

I found the people to be friendly and very welcoming. The food was always good. I spent a month or so in the winter there and nearly froze to death; I do indeed empathize with our brave and noble troops, ( especially those hidden up in the mountains with no tell-tail fire to keep them warm).
In Herat I met an elderly man, his wife, and body-guard returning from Mecca. He was a "Tribal Leader," of one of those mountain regions ruled by the evil Taliban now. It is true that a guest is treated like a member of the family or like royalty. We ate bear nuts together.
I made a lot money too selling the famed "sheepskin" coat that no Hippie could live without. The makers made more money than they had ever dreamed. There were custom orders with jewels and glitter by more famous Brits who bought not one but ten to be cool. The ancient "ruins.." the variations by regions, the dialects, happy little kids, all destroyed by decades of war. Nope, not today.

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