KATE Webb and I first crossed paths in Kabul, Afghanistan in April 1992, when Tempo magazine assigned me to cover the aftermath of the Soviet withdrawal and the impending civil war between the Afghan factions and tribal groups.

As a female journalist, I had heard, of course, about Kate’s legendary exploits during the Vietnam War. In particular, how she was captured by North Vietnamese troops in Cambodia in 1970 and held prisoner for 23 day