If you don't grow a beard the Taliban will chop off your toes!

I read a book today at work written by a Brit who traveled through Afghanistan. On his journey he met a young man with no toes, who said that the Taliban had chopped them off because he did not have a beard. He had since grown a weak, thin beard. Good idea, as you never know what the Taliban would chop off next! As a Brit this author was often harassed and threatened by Afghan villagers who thought he was Taliban, because the Taliban is made up of many foreign invaders from Arab countries. There is an occupation for you. I bet there are more foreigners occupying Afghanistan from Arab countries than there are coalition forces in Afghanistan. The Arabs, who often come from countries that are modernizing, are trying to force Afghans to live in the past to suit their own ideology. Its like the white man playing Indian.