Warlords of Afghanistan Coasters?

Matt Weems, a self-described “illustrator & armchair statesman,” has created a set of provocative and beautifully inked coasters based on his research, which depict the “Warlords of Afghanistan.”  These make a great gift for anyone with a sense of humor and an interest in Afghanistan (Weems notes that they “inform the public and protect furniture from discoloration.”)

Check out his site here:

As for the warlords themselves, they are a glimpse into another age. We live in a society crammed shoulder to shoulder with others, careful not to offend, concealing our ambitions, publicly mouthing pious opinions about how drugs are bad, church is good, and pretending we have freedom. The warlords are a fascinating contrast; contemporary versions of Robert Guiscard, Jesse James, Al Capone, and many other freebooting scallywags from our own past. They are amazingly resilient, lurking in the hills when defeated, waiting for a chance to come back. They are also cruel and brave and crazy with conviction. They live large and die violent, self-pitying deaths.