In 2001 the Taliban destroyed part of another of the world's treasures -- the huge Buddhastatuesin the Bamiyan Valley on the ancient Silk Road inAfghanistan.
And they have engaged in the wholesale destruction of the ancient treasures of the city of Timbuktu, a world heritage site, much as the Taliban did when they conquered Afghanistan and blew up the ancient Buddhastatuesin Bamiyan.