11.27.2004: Bodybuilding the New Thing in Afghanistan

complete article at sfgate.com:

Kabul -- In the old days, Afghanistan's tough guys wore beards and wool caps, studied the Quran and fought flinty mountain battles against rival tribes and foreign invaders.

These days, it's all waxed chests, cheesy grins, bulging biceps and a quiet reverence for the governor of California.

"People don't want to fight anymore. They want to look healthy, like in the movies," said Temour Shah, a beefy 23-year-old, as he pumped weights under an Arnold Schwarzenegger poster at Gold's Gym in central Kabul.