AFGHANISTAN: One Week

Afghanistan is bigger than France, but it has only one movie theater. The capital, ancient Kabul, has only one café. And the café is allowed to open one week in the year. Last week was it—and Kabul's mud walls fairly shook with the greatest celebration yet of Jash'n Istiklal.

Zoot Suits & Rams. Jash'n Istiklal commemorates the final withdrawal (in 1919) of British military power in Afghanistan. Though the Afghans are delightedly proud of their independence, Western influence was still obviously on the increase. Last week beady-eyed riflemen from the Hindu Kush and...

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