Steven is a known quantity. If he wants to believe that the CIA created Al Qadea, fuck it, he's too far to the left to change his mind on that one. Some beliefs are like religion, they don't depend on facts.
I’ve been called many things on SI, but I think that’s the first time I’ve been called a known quantity. I’m not sure if it’s a compliment, but you’ve said enough nice things about me that I can let it go even if it’s not.
I don’t think the CIA created al Qaeda, and I don’t think I said I thought that. I would say that the CIA and many others thought the idea of recruiting militants from around the Muslim world to fight against Russia was a wonderful thing, and that we provided all the aid we possibly could to make it a reality. Under the circumstances prevailing at that time, it would have been the natural thing to do, especially for an agency not notorious for long-term thinking. We were spending, if you recall, about $500 million a year supporting resistance to the Soviets in Afghanistan. I’d be very surprised to hear that none of that got to al Qaeda. Of course back then we were calling that affair one of the most successful covert operations in our history. Now nobody wants to talk about it at all. Success has many parents, failure is an orphan.
Over where I live, it was common knowledge back then that US agencies were assisting in the recruitment of Muslim radicals in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the southern Philippines to fight in Afghanistan. The governments of those countries loved the idea, and were only too happy to send their troublemakers off to fight the Russians. Back then it seemed like a win-win situation. I expect that similar help was given in many other regions, and that other forms of assistance were given as well. In fact, I think Osama and the CIA were pretty much bosom buddies back then. It was too logical an alliance not to have emerged.
By the way, when did I become a leftist? That would be news to many of the lefties I know, who are convinced that my belief in free trade and economic globalization puts me solidly among the fascist pigs. I guess a lot depends on the criteria used, but I wasn’t aware that doubting the wisdom of war against Iraq – or distrusting the CIA – qualifies one as a leftist by any standard. I’ve always thought of myself as a thinking person, which of course eliminates any possibility of consistent affiliation with left or right. |
