how much aide did Osama Bin lAden recive from Charlie Willson?

Question

With the new movie about Charlie Willson's war I have been wondering dose the film ever mention the Mujuhadeen included Al Queda,
and if the actions of the real life Charlie Willson helped builed up Al queda into the world wide threat they are today and did he even think might have been aiding this monster?

Answer 1

Something about Osama getting US help was brought up last couple elections- His group was not a main force resistance group getting American help. Bin Laden had some Saudi and gulf coast charity support as well as his own money, he came to Afghanistan late in anti-soviet resistance after some American support was already going to most of the other groups. Note that a few groups in western Afghanistan recieved their support from Iran, they form Hizari(sic?) resistance and also had minimal US support. Afghan groups at last election had couple interviews -when asked about Bin Ladens Arab help they stated he was lucky to survive, his main claim of victory was at end of conflict when his group survived a reteating Soviet force attack on prepared base area. He had provided some funds to some other groups and arranged some supply smuggling from gulf coast area where he had contacts from his construction business. His groups 2 main attacks on Soviet front forces were fiascoes compared to attacks from Panshir groups. Bin Ladens group might have gotten some small amounts of food supply, maybe some other bits and pieces origianly from US by trading with other active resistance groups- a Pushtu group member said the time they tried to have a coordinated attack with the Bin Laden group they shared some things, but didn't do much after attempted attack with Osamas group didn't work well, bin Ladens group mistakes noted by others and they didn't work much with them afterwards- said the arabs were beginners at the fight and were getting killed by their mistakes, hurting other group that went with them.

Answer 2

I am not sure, but I would like to add some information that might help.

Bin Laden had never been an all time leader for the Arabic Mujahideen in Afghanistan. During the war with the Soviets, the Arabic Mujahideen were led by Abdullah Azam. He was assassinated during the 1990s (after the war with the Soviets).

Also the Taliban were not the supreme leaders of the Afghanis all along. The Afghani Mujahideen (including all groups) were led by Ahmad shah Masud. A former General in the Afghani Army. After the war with the soviets the Afghani civil war broke out & the Taliban took control of 90% of the land. Ahmad Masud kept leading the northern alliance, & maintained good relation with the west. But the Clinton Administration had always been reluctant to go to war.

Answer 3

I just watched a two hour special on the History Channel which is the "true" story behind the Tom Hanks' movie. Excellent - I'm sure it will run again.
His concern was for the Afghan people and to destroy the Soviets. He wasn't thinking much (nor was anyone else) about things yet to come. We were so consumed with the Russians and the Communist threat that we didn't think "outside the box."
I recommend you watch the documentary.

Answer 4

This is a great queestion. Almost certiinaly he gave him both money and weapons, but I don't know for sure. He was major fuder of the Taliban for sure. I wish just one revview of the film would have brought this up.

Answer 5

I also wonder how much aid the CIA and Charlie Wilson gave the Mujahedin too - but with questions like yours I see that others have finally realized that the Soviets in Afghanistan were not really the biggest "threat" they made it out to be.