[A. Pole]

As for your notion that the US helped the Taliban and AQ, well, such an absurd notion should be left for the tinfoil hat brigades within the fever swamp of the far left.

I don't know about AQ, but when most of Afghanistan was dominated by Taliban while northern and eastern part was controlled by the Northern Allience, it was Northern Allience which was supported by Russia and Iran. Taliban was receiving help from US under pretexts like fight against drug trade.

[swilhelm73]

Yes, Russia supported the Northern Alliance. IIRC, Iran primarily supported a splinter group of anti-Taliban Shiites.

This was, of course, long after America had left involvment in Afghani politics.

Clinton did indeed send humanitarian aid, but this was neither aid to either the Taliban or the Northern Alliance, but instead aid directly to humanitarian groups operating within the nation.

So, to summarize - the thesis that the US aided the Taliban or AQ is still within the domain of tinfoil hattery.