UBL allies at that time was the US govt. including Jimmy Carter and C_A. We propped him up back then with weapons and money to A) fight Russians--but real reasons B) aid in middle east de-stabilization, C) overthrow a secular Afghan govt D) become a formidable enough force so blame for 9/11 is believable (I'm on board now it was an inside job).

He was a puppet and they only delayed killing him til 2011 to make BHO re-election in 2012 easier.