>But the ideology, it seems, never sank in. When Taliban soldiers
>arrived they smashed every television set they could find. As they
>approached his home, Muhammad Asif, a young shopkeeper, rushed his
>Sharp 17-inch television and VCR to the backyard, where he buried
>them.
>
>Since then, Mr. Asif has dreamed of the day when he would be able to
>watch again. That moment arrived today when he unearthed his
>television and slipped a weathered copy of "Titanic" into the VCR.
and
>It was through Mr. Mir's connections with the Taliban that he was
>able to interview Mr. bin Laden for the first time, in March 1997.
>An escorted journey through the mountains of northeastern
>Afghanistan led him to a small artificial cave. Before he met Mr.
>bin Laden, he was thoroughly searched.
>
>During the first meeting, Mr. bin Laden played the generous host,
>serving a roasted sheep and Pepsi.
Cultural purists must be alarmed!
Doug