Tuition was often free. If you have not visited Pakistan's Western frontier, then just imagine it to be like the proverbial Wild West. The only difference is that instead of colt 45s and Henry repeaters, the cowboys here carry Soviet Kalashnikovs. Poverty, frustration and anger have created a void that is being filled with a self-righteous desire to alter the power structure of the world. Under such circumstances, it is no wonder that it is not just Afghanistan's, but also Pakistan's economy which has been steadily headed downwards for the last ten years.
Soldiers born in conditions of war simply know of no other life but war.
Unemployment is rampant and the population is exploding. Sanctions against Afghanistan, imposed by the United States, have further exacerbated the economic plight of the Pakistani people in the border region. Poverty, frustration and anger have created a void that is being filled with a self-righteous desire to alter the power structure of the world in the name of Islam. It is from this strongly American-influenced and war ravaged cultural context that the genie of Osama bin Laden who ranks on the FBI's most wanted list has sprung. To find out how that may be possible requires taking a look backwards.