You're the 'history guy' Rory... Do a little Googlin' on Osama and Afghanistan in the 80's, when he was our... get this... ALLY in helping Afghanistan defeat the Russian invaders. ;\)

He IS a despicable murdering villian to most of the world, (including me) but he is also viewed as a hero by some for things other than masterminding 911.
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A day late and a dollar short...