Misquote? No one ever does things in hindsight!
Anyway, I'm glad the artifacts were kept safe. After what the Taliban did to the antique Buddha statues... they have no respect for anything but their own earthly power.
I’m guessing it was a translation problem. It took some guts to hide anything from the Taliban, especially treasure and art. I give the caretakers great credit. They risked their lives to preserve their history.
I’m amazed that the Russians didn’t run off with it and more. Saw the Afghan exhibit when it was in Washington, DC. It was spectacular, and it was really interesting to see the crosscurrents of cultures that have influenced Afg. art and artifacts.