Why did Ronald Reagan train and arm Bin Laden?

Question

Mahal and Skyhawk - You guys are really in denial. Do some homework it you want the truth. I asked this question to see how many people had been drinking the koolaide.

Answer 1

Because he was fighting against the USSR. It is the same reason the US fought in Korea, and Vietnam. It the same reason we send money and air to the contra's. It is the same reason we supported the leader of Iran and a whole bunch of other countries even though they were criminals and treated some of their people badly.

From the FDR to the first President Bush, every president has gotten involved in events in other countries to fight the influence of the USSR. It was the build up of the military by Reagan the brought down the USSR. When the first President Bush was elected, the Soviets expected 8 more years of build up and know that they could not compete.

Answer 2

Bin Laden at the time was only a minor functionary in the anti-Soviet mujaheddin, in fact he was more of a financier and only visited Afghanistan for meetings rather than for fighting. His relation to the US-backed forces was superficial at best. He had no relation at the time to the Taliban.

After the leaving of the Soviets, the forces backed by the USA splintered and the country fell into civil war with the usual atrocities to the civilian population that entail. Many of the people who had been heroes of the anti-Soviet war were now looting what was left of Afghanistan and terrorizing the population. This was how the people supported by Pakistan who would become the Taliban gained truly popular support (at least for a while). The promised a return to order and security through Islamic law, which they delivered in spades.

If you want to ask an ironic question, here's a cleverer one. Why was the USA in its liberation of Afghanistan allied with the Northern Alliance which was led by the remnants of the Soviet-installed communist government? And, why is the USA now trying so hard to reinstate the cultural reforms (ie- women's rights and freedom from religion, etc) which were installed by the Soviets during their occupation and which the USA had used as recruiting tools against the Soviets?

Answer 3

Obama bin Laden was never a major figure in the 1980's. Bill Clinton didn't worry much about Bin Laden as he reportedly had 20 chances to knock him out in the 1990's By the same token there are thousands life Bin Laden ready to to take up the mantle of Allah against the west. Bush II had several chances to kill bin laden. Barack even let several chances pass by before deciding to execute him without a trial. Bin laden never was and never became very important.

Answer 4

Because the soviets invaded afganistan, and they were the bigger threat/enemy at the time. And Bin Laden just happened to be one guy in the Mujahadeen who was fighting the soviets, and was not our enermy at the time.

Both Reagan and Carter supported this effort and the Soviet war in Afganistan was essential their vietnam experience and had a lot to do with the fall of the Soviet Union. Without US support, the USSR may still be around today.

You should stop all your rhetorically dumb questions. Do you really think you are convincing anyone else on any point of view other then on your stupidity by asking them? Oh wait, I just asked a rhetorical question...

Answer 5

Well, first off, Ronald Reagan did not arm and train Bin Laden.
If you do a little research, you'll find that, for the most part, U.S. Presidents are not arms dealers and or military instructors.
Also, Presidents don't work independently. There are checks and balances that prevent unilateral ,independent actions from any single branch of government. (Again, that pesky research will help out with this.)
What you are really asking is why did the U.S. supply arms and training to the 'enemy of our enemy'.
I know, given your agenda, you want to sling some mud on to the reputation of the greatest President this century.
The U.S., throughout history, has aided those governments, rebels, armies, etc., that are working against enemies of the U.S.
Specifically, in this case, the U.S. was helping the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan defend themselves and their country against the Soviet Union.

Hey Xmas ghost, what Kool aid?
I have given you no indication, by my answer, whether or not I agree with our governments foreign entanglements and meddling in the affairs of other countries.
Other than the editorial comment on Reagan himself, my answer only states FACTS.

Answer 6

The answer is a simple as the question is absurd.

Ronald Regan didn't train or arm anyone. He made decisions to help the Afghan people repel the Soviet Union after they invaded Afghanistan.
Bin Laden was just another member of the Mujaheddin at the time... although an influential member.

Answer 7

The Reagan administration trained and armed Al-Qaeda to fight the Russians, even though it is a known terrorist organization. It appears that the U.S. Government will aid or ally themselves with any person or organization that benefits it or forwards it's self-serving agenda. Some inside sources and whistle-blowers claim that Bin Laden is on the CIA payroll to this very day . . .

Answer 8

Let me be fair,Reagan continued a policy started by Carter. OBL didn't show up until late in the game. on a side note Al Qaueda training camps were in Pakistan,is it any wonder they returned to Pakistan to regroup.

Answer 9

The overwhelming threat to Freedom in the 80's was the Soviet Union. Reagan funded the Afghans to fight the Soviet Invasion of their country because "the enemy of my enemy is my friend".

Now the threat is different...And no-one was expecting a bunch of Arabs who had just invented a death cult to show up.

Answer 10

We were mostly financing and training the Northern Alliance. You can have hours of fun researching the different groups fighting the Soviets back then.