[B] From 1981-1989 ....
Originally Posted by Zanzibar789
Operation Cyclone began during the Carter administration, the training camps were set up during his administration, and "train-the-trainers" for the beginnings of "al Queda" were conducted in Virginia. The relationship was in place when Reagan walked in the door. One the Soviets left (or bailed) the Enron folks started dealing with the Taliban for rights to have a gas line across Afghanistan into India to feed the power plant their "international" identity was constructing with the direct assistance of the Clinton Administration, who threatened the Indians if the approvals were not completed for the plant (remember the one that "blew up")
The day before or after the Taliban showed up in Sugarland, Texas, to meet with Ken Lays bunch, Clinton ordered strikes on the "camps" in Afghanistan (killing the goats and their herders, but not getting OBL's group) and the Enron crowd raised hell with the White House... who were unaware of the meeting occurring in Sugar Land.
It's politically expedient to lay it on the Republicans ... but its a Democrat Baby... conceived and nurtured. Granted Reagan should have shit canned the deal and Bush Sr also.... it was already in motion and the "damage" in place. The opportunity to slap down the Soviets and lay a transmission line for gas was too much to overcome.