Putin: USA raised al-Qaida and bin Laden
Russian President Vladimir Putin during an interview with Oliver stone for the film, shown on channel Showtime, said that “al-Qaeda” (Banned in Russia. — RNS) was the result of the activities of U.S. intelligence, like Osama bin Laden.
“Al-Qaida is not a result of our activities. This is the result of our American friends. It started ever since the Soviet war in Afghanistan. When American intelligence agencies supported the various directions of Islamic fundamentalism in the struggle against Soviet troops in Afghanistan. The Americans themselves have grown and al-Qaeda, and bin Laden,” said Putin.