Some media outlets put forward the idea, leaked by one of our intelligence agencies, that Russians are rewarding Afghan Taliban for killing American and allied troops in Afghanistan. The President and Vice President claim they were never briefed on intel to that effect. In effect, it’s another “he said, she said” moment.
What nobody mentions is that we were doing the same thing in reverse when the folks who became the Taliban - the Mujahadeen - were fighting the Soviets. Our CIA provided arms and support, including almost inevitably money to the Mujahadeen who were bushwhacking Soviets. The film Charlie Wilson’s War was based on this effort.
It is what is done in the shadow world of asymmetric warfare if you back the weaker side. If the Soviets’ successor - the Russians - are funding the Taliban, who can blame them? We backed the same group of warlord marauders before the tables were turned. This whole thing is a nothingburger.
