The CIA, contrary to conventional wisdom, had nothing to do with Osama Bin Laden during the Afghan War in the 1980's. The sources are pretty convincing, too: two retired CIA officers, who had both served as chief of station (i.e. the director of all CIA activities in their assigned countries) in Islamabad, Pakistan, between 1984 and 1989. The officers note that there were two Afghan resistance movements working against the Soviets, one CIA-backed, relying on local militias, and one Saudi-backed, relying on Islamic fighters from other countries (think non-profit mercenaries.)
I must admit that even I fell into the trap described in the article, conflating the two rebellions because they happened at the same time and were directed at the same enemy, leading to the assumption that they must be the same.
Henceforth, Thief's painfully-learned lesson for the day: NEVER Assume. For every time you assume, you make an ass out of u and me.
Posted by Thief at September 26, 2003 12:58 PM