Talk:Osama bin Laden/Archive 2

Removal of picture
Sorry for removing the picture! Out of habit, I just assumed that it wasn't hosted on our server. Good work to whoever so quickly uploaded the picture. --User:Larry Sanger


 * That was Jimbo who deserves the kudos. No harm done in being cautious.  :-)  --KQ

Name
Is there is reason why we have this as "Usama Bin Laden" rather than the far more common "Osama Bin Laden"? (Google registers more than 10 times the number of hits with the latter spelling.) I was going to just move it, but I thought maybe I should ask first. --Zundark


 * The FBI has it "Usama." And yes, "Osama bin Laden" (or "Bin," capped) is far more common.  I have not moved it b/c I didn't want to start another silly debate that distracts from writing articles.  --KQ


 * I created the initial entry, and I chose to use the FBI spelling because that's where I got the text for the original article. &lt;&gt;&lt; User:tbc


 * Since there are redirects from at least all four (O/U)sama (B/b)in Laden spellings, I think that's enough. --User:Pinkunicorn


 * Fair enough. It's all an approximation anyway.  :-)


 * So, feel free to move it. --User:LMS

CIA theory
Some muslims I knew claimed that Usama Bin Laden was trained and backed by the CIA in the 80s to fight against the Soviet. Now the US had created a monster out of control. The American public were sheild from this type of information because the media wouldn't publicize it, but it seems to be common knowledge outside the US. Is there any truth to this?


 * well, it's common knowledge inthe U.S. that we backed the Mujahadeen with training and weapons, so to think that it's an unknown conspiracy is going too far. It was not at all uncommon to see reports on the backing while it was going on. Wasn't it DAn Rather who actually made a field trip? --MichaelTinkler


 * I heard a very similar statement from some Indians I used to work with. Historically, it is not *at all* uncommon for local fighters trained, armed, backed, and advanced by secret services or elite forces to end up in positions of power where they can cause a good deal of mischief well into the future.  The CIA has (allegedly) done this many times in the past, and so it would not be a big surprise if it were true.  One might even argue that it is in fact the CIA's mission and purpose to seek out and recruit human agents such as this, even though they actually rely more heavily on technical means of information collection (for good reason, IMHO).  If a side effect of having an organization like the CIA working internationally during peacetime is heightened terrorism, might that question whether we should even _have_ active espionage agencies?  -- BryceHarrington

Michael Moore (of Roger & Me fame) claims to have heard about bin Laden's CIA training on msnbc. that of course may not be worth much, just my .02 which I have not had time to research since I just got home about 10 minutes ago.


 * link found: http://msnbc.com/news/190144.asp?cp1=1 (let's just add him to Noriega now.... U.S. Government == "oops, did I do that?") --KQ

There could be a whole article called U.S. supports gone terribly wrong or something....In the Iraq-Iran war Hussein was the good guy, backed by Washington....--User:AN (yes, this has not much to do with this, erase it later.....)