Neat quotes. Even so, I suppose, a difference concerns motivation. It seems clear that the Taliban intrinsically wished to destroy the (to them) pagan and abominable buddha statues at Bamyan. Presumably with Thornborough it is more a question of incidental consequences of "rational" pursuit of profitable opportunities. A different god is being served in each case. But yes, it is interesting that in each situation there is a rule-based procedure to justify behaviour and deflect criticism.

Treeman