AFGHAN ANTIQUITIES CLASH WITH RELIGIOUS FERVOR

Afghanistan's ruling Taliban ordered all the nation's ancient relics from its pre-Islamic past destroyed. And now they have been. The Taliban's leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar, said these antiquities were idolatrous and against the tenets of Islam.

That includes the world's tallest standing Buddha, now blasted into rubble with explosives, rockets and heavy artillery.

The destruction followed international appeals to save the statues. Even other Muslims asked the relics be saved. Egypt's chief Muslim cleric said the statues were "just a recording of history and don't have any negative impact on Muslims' beliefs."

How sad that these treasurers are gone, never to be enjoyed for their artistic and historical value.

And what a reminder of how wonderful it is to live in the United States, where the government protects our right to worship in the manner we please instead of destroying the statues and relics that go against leaders' beliefs.