Why did Reagan give money, guns, and training to Osama bin Laden in the 1980s?

During the cold war the US provided money, guns and training to those fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan, including Bin Laden. Of course Bin Laden wasn't a "terrorist" then he was one of the Mujahideen that where fighting the Soviets. It was considered in the best interests of the US if the Soviets lost in Afghanistan. The problem was that after the Soviets pulled out of Afghanistan the US abandoned the country and left a lawless failed state which lead to the Taliban coming to power.

Actually the assistance plan was developed and authorized in 1979, the same year that the Soviets entered Afghanistan. At that time Reagan was still not in office. The funding was authorized by Carter.

There's a saying in Tsung Tzu's book, "Art of War." It says "The enemy of my enemy is my friend."

With OBL it was a two way street. The US (Through the CIA) was looking for a way to get at the Soviets who had invaded Afghanistan. The Taliban were looking for a way to get rid of them. For a time, both sides were willing to put aside their differences since they both had the same basic goal.

He didn't. The CIA, in secret, supported the Mujahadeen, of which OBL was a member. They did not specifically seek out OBL to assist him. This is the conspiracy lie that is often purported, but not true.

Reagan was never even aware. Most of America wasn't until after the war was over (with the Soviets).

The 'why' is simple: we were in the Cold War against the Soviets, the Soviets were raiding the helpless Afghans who fought back. The enemy of our enemy became our friend, so we backed them.

Actually it was Democratic Senator Charlie Wilson who started and led the support of the afghan rebels against the Soviets

Yet again another Democrat led war.

We funded the Taliban because we were trying to repel the Soviety Union, who we were trying to fight against at any cost. Unfortunately, no one foresaw the effect that empowering the Taliban would have on that region.

Same reason we supported Stalin - to defeat an even worse enemy.

a marked inability to think through a situation!

for the most part, the same reason owe-bama is doing it right now for the same groups of people. there is no difference.

Using muslim islamofacists to kill communists...sounds good to me.