Believe it or not, that headline is for real.

KANDAHAR -- A wave of crime in this southern Afghan city has evoked a growing local nostalgia for the Taliban era of 1996 to 2001, when the extremist Islamic militia imposed law and order by draconian means.

The rising discontent in Kandahar could prove particularly problematic for Karzai.

There is much about Kandahar that underscores how far it has progressed since the Taliban's ouster. Bazaars are filled with merchandise, from photos to VCRs, that would have been unthinkable during the Taliban era.

Still, residents say, the outward trappings mask entrenched problems.

On March 13, I ran an NYRB article called "The Real Afghanistan"; did you read it? This story reinforces the same themes.

Afghan Crime Wave Breeds Nostalgia for Taliban