Charlie Wilson's War: Separating Fact From Fiction
Others though are keen to assert that while Wilson deserves a place in history, this could be more a footnote, than a central credit. The fall of communism was by no means mono-causal and the events and actions of other players were arguably just as paramount, if not far more.
Bitter Ironies
During the 1980s, Wilson always portended that Afghanistan was one of the few morally black and white causes the United States had supported since the Second World War. No member of Congress stood up to protest or query the astronomic expenditures.
Alas, the aftermath proved more ethically ambiguous. With America walking away from Afghanistan after the Soviets left, much needed aid for development was denied. Within this fragile context, the Mujahideen eventually split, with several factions emerging, including the now infamous Taliban. It could be argued – and indeed has been – that the CIA-led operation helped fund Osama bin Laden and eventually led to 9/11.
Of course, this crosses the border into hypothetical history. Wilson himself, in an interview with Time Magazine, reflects: “We were fighting the evil empire. It would have been like not supplying the Soviets against Hitler in World War II. Anyway, who the hell had ever heard of the Taliban then?”
The End
Charlie Wilson’s acts of bravery were honoured in 1989 when he was invited to the CIA headquarters to celebrate the end of the stalemate in Afghanistan. It was here that a large screen in an auditorium bellowed Zia ul-Haq’s message: “Charlie did it.”
Wilson retired from Congress seven years later.
Bitter Ironies
During the 1980s, Wilson always portended that Afghanistan was one of the few morally black and white causes the United States had supported since the Second World War. No member of Congress stood up to protest or query the astronomic expenditures.
Alas, the aftermath proved more ethically ambiguous. With America walking away from Afghanistan after the Soviets left, much needed aid for development was denied. Within this fragile context, the Mujahideen eventually split, with several factions emerging, including the now infamous Taliban. It could be argued – and indeed has been – that the CIA-led operation helped fund Osama bin Laden and eventually led to 9/11.
Of course, this crosses the border into hypothetical history. Wilson himself, in an interview with Time Magazine, reflects: “We were fighting the evil empire. It would have been like not supplying the Soviets against Hitler in World War II. Anyway, who the hell had ever heard of the Taliban then?”
The End
Charlie Wilson’s acts of bravery were honoured in 1989 when he was invited to the CIA headquarters to celebrate the end of the stalemate in Afghanistan. It was here that a large screen in an auditorium bellowed Zia ul-Haq’s message: “Charlie did it.”
Wilson retired from Congress seven years later.
