KABUL (Reuters) - Thousands of angry Afghans stormed and set fire to the long-deserted U.S. embassy in the capital, Kabul, as part of huge protests against threatened U.S. strikes.
Two Taliban fighters climbed on to the building and used a hammer and an iron rod to rip off the U.S. seal from over the main door to the old office of the ambassador.
All U.S. diplomats and staff left the embassy just before the Soviet Union abandoned its occupation of Afghanistan in 1989 and the United States has maintained only a skeleton local staff and has no diplomatic ties with the isolated purist Taliban rulers of Afghanistan.
"Death to Bush," shouted tens of thousands of protesters, mostly government officials and students, who marched through the city to protest against U.S. demands that the Taliban hand over Osama bin Laden, chief suspect in this month's devastating suicide plane attacks.
"We will support Islam and bin Laden," they chanted.
The protesters burned an effigy of President Bush, ripped apart a U.S. flag and hurled stones at the gates and offices of the embassy before setting it alight.
Several marchers and Taliban fighters were injured by stones.
"The U.S. government should learn a lesson from our defeat of the Russians and the British," they shouted.
"Others like them and their embassy, they will be trampled under the feet of Muslims and Afghans," one protester said.
"God is great," shouted the demonstrators.
A huge plume of smoke spiraled into the sky above the compound and Taliban fighters tried to disperse the crowd.
Fire fighters fought in vain to extinguish the flames, which were spreading from a car park filled with dilapidated vehicles stored in disused garages.
Local staff of the embassy had already evacuated the compound.
Copyright © 2001 Reuters Limited.
Sheesh.............who would one have to pi$$ off to draw that duty???
"That does it, Bosley. ENOUGH. You've pushed me too far this time. Your next assignment just got decided. How do ya feel about Kabul????"
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"
It easy to see that the Afghanis support Islam.
According to the 1997 World Almanac (p. 737)
105% of Afghanis claim to be Muslim.
90% of Afghanis are Sunni Muslims and 15% are Shi'a Muslims.
Are they sure this wasn't Berkeley, California?
This is a metaphor for their whole ugly campaign. Attack the United States for some pretended purpose, and end up injuring themselves in the process. Except the injuries in store for them are substantially more debilitating than a rock ding.