A rug adorns the wall of Shir Afghan Wakili’s Westminster, Calif. apartment. Rugs are common decorations in Middle Eastern households, and this one is no exception. However, this rug is uniquely Afghan. Its thread is woven with a pattern of tanks and rockets, a reminder of his home country’s history with war. “This is what will destroy Afghanistan,” says Shir, as he points toward the lines of advancing tanks.