The most promising querilla leaders were sought out and sponsored by the CIA. U.S. official sources are understandably vague on the question of whether Osama bin Laden was one of the CIAs chosen at that time. Bin Ladens group was one of seven main mujahedin factions. It is estimated that a significant quantity of high tech American Weapons, including stinger anti-aircraft missiles, made their way into his arsenal. The majority of then are reported to still be there. The Mujahedin were wildly successful. In the ten years of savage fighting they vanquished the Soviet Union. What had begun as a fragmented army of tribal warriors ended up a well-organized and equipped modern army--one capable of beating a super power. The departing Soviet troops left behind an Afghanistan with a huge arsenal of sophisticated weapons and thousands of seasoned Islamic warriors from a variety of countries.Toward the end of the war in Afghanistan, bin Laden split with MAK co-founder Azzam in the late 1980s, and in 1988 formed al-Qaida to continue the work of the Jihad. While Azzam continued to focus on support to Muslims in Afghanistan, bin Laden turned his attention to carrying the war to other countries. In 1989, while on his way with his two sons to Friday prayers in Peshawar, Azzam was killed by a massive explosion. His killers have never been identified; Azzam had many enemies. (Elliott, 2). Several rumors circulating at the time blamed bin Laden himself for the attack.In February 1998, bin Laden announced the formation of an umbrella organization called The Islamic World Front for the struggle against the Jews and the Crusaders. Among the members of this organization are the Egyptian al-Gamaa al-Islamiyya and the Egytian al-Jihad. Both of these groups have been active in terrorism over the past decade. The founder members of the Front include, besides bin Laden; Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri, leader of the Egyptian Jihad; Rifai Ahmad Taha, a lead...
