Fighting Against Terrorism

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1979: The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan.
After the second World War, America and the Soviet Union (now broken up) were the two major superpowers in the world. Relations between the two countries were often difficult. In the Cuban Missile crisis in 1963 they nearly went to war. When the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, the Americans secretly armed the Afghans in their fight against the invaders. Osama bin Laden helped the Afghans in their freedom struggle. So America helped to train the man who would eventually become their enemy.

'Your enemy's enemy is your friend.' Explain this statement with regard to America and Osama bin Laden.

1990: Iraq invades Kuwait (The Gulf War).
Saddam Hussein is the President of Iraq. In 1990 he invaded Kuwait. Saudi Arabia, being neighbours, were obviously threatened by this act of aggression. Osama bin Laden offered his country assistance from Afghan fighters to rid Kuwait of their invaders. Saudi Arabia refused such help. Instead, they accepted assistance from America. America troops drove the Iraqi army out of Kuwait. To this day American bases remain on Saudi Arabian soil. Bin Laden detests Western values and regards America as the worst culprits. Having infidels, as he calls the Americans, on his homeland is all a bit too much for Osama.

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