If someone from RK will be attending:

1) I'd like to know his view on how accurate the movie was.

2) And probably the most important question: Does he still believe that the CIA should be meddling in other nations, like Afghanistan, or has his views changed?  Does he believe that it is the right thing to do to have powerful nations, like the United States and former Soviet Union, fighting wars by proxy?

3) Has he ever, or will he (if he hasn't) apologize to the American people for his actions that ultimately lead to a situation that created the Taliban, fostered terrorism, and built a home for Osama Bin Laden's operations?  I believe that Charlie Wilson's activities set the stage for 9/11.  Agree or disagree?

I never understood the enthusiasm, especially among Democrats, for the movie Charlie Wilson's War.  Despite the fact that Wilson is a Democrat and an interesting character (and the fact that one of my favorite Hollywood writers, Aaron Sorkin, creator of The West Wing, wrote the movie's screenplay), Wilson's and the U.S' meddling in Afghanistan were responsible for the rise of the Taliban and even al Qaeda.

In order to keep up the fight with the Soviet Union in what was the last gasp of the Cold War, we befriended and funded a group of theocratic and extremist Islamists who later turned on us.  I'm not saying this with 20/20 hindsight either.  Right while our involvement was ongoing in the late 1970s, I was glum about it.  I knew some Aghanis in New York and they shared my skepticism about whom the U.S. supported in that conflict.

I respect the Muslim faith, however, I was worried as far back as the 70s about the rise of a political-religious form of Islam that threatened secularism, separation of church and state, and the rights of women and also threatened Israel's right to exist.  We paid a steep price for replacing the threat of communism with the worse threat of suicidal religious terrorism. Aghanistan was a conflict we should have stayed out of.

We really need to reconsider that ridiculous notion that the enemy of my enemy is my friend.  Not always!

And thank you Relawson.  You are the only other person that I heard express what I have thought all along.