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The CIA official in charge of the U.S. covert operation in support of the Afghan fighters during the late 1980s told us Paul is perpetuating an “urban myth.” The CIA website states unequivocally “that the CIA never employed, paid, or maintained any relationship whatsoever with bin Laden.”
For example, Peter Bergen, a national security analyst for CNN who interviewed bin Laden in 1997, told us, “There is no evidence that the CIA funded or armed bin Laden or even knew who he was until 1993.”
a snippet from the testimony of Cofer Black , director of the CIA’s Counterterrorism Center from 1999 through May 2002, to Congress’ inquiry into the 9/11 attacks:
Black, Sept. 26, 2002: We knew of Bin Ladin since his early days in Afghanistan. We had no relationship with him but we watched a 22 year old rich kid from a prominent Saudi family, change from frontline mujahedin fighter to a financier for road construction and hospitals. Then we watched him found something we learned was called al Qa’ida.
BBC news article: "...Bin Laden left Saudi Arabia in 1979 to fight against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. The Afghan jihad was backed with American dollars and had the blessing of the governments of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. He received security training from the CIA itself."
Forbes business information service article: "...[Osama bin Laden] received military and financial assistance from the intelligence services of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and the United States."
ABC News article: "In the 1980s, bin Laden left his comfortable Saudi home for Afghanistan to participate in the Afghan jihad, or holy war, against the invading forces of the Soviet Union - a cause that, ironically, the United States funded, pouring $3 billion into the Afghan resistance via the CIA."
Originally posted by syrinx high priest
well, if he's a rich guy fighting the russians, isn't the question, "did the CIA ever sell bin laden weapons or training ?"
Originally posted by MrSpad
Originally posted by syrinx high priest
well, if he's a rich guy fighting the russians, isn't the question, "did the CIA ever sell bin laden weapons or training ?"
The answer to this would be no. The US sent its aid through Pakistan who was suppose to use for anti Soviet units they trusted. Of course aid was also coming from other Western nations, Arab states and China. Bin Laden was not fighting to Soviets his job was providing aid and arms from other Islamic sources. So no he would not have gotten aid from the US as he was also provinding aid to the mujahideen himself.
Originally posted by Trexter Ziam
Originally posted by DeadSeraph
right from the horses mouth (pun intended):
"trained...people...who were fanatical"