But not really unlike what we've done elsewhere in the world. And I don't think that Al Queda's future actions were predictable. And nobody knows what would have happened in Afganistan, if we had not aided the rebels. Today's world may be worse if we reran history and tried it the other way. Impossible to say. Second guessing after the fact is what paranoiacs do for fun (and science fiction authors).

Going beyond the quote that you displayed to say that 911 was the Saudi government's fault is not supported by any evidence that I've ever seen. I'm fairly certain that the Saudis were as horrified as anyone. In fact, your quote makes America seem as culpable or even more culpable than the Saudis.

Bottom line is that some religious freedom fighters who hated the Soviets as much as we did, also proved to hate us just as much. Then they committed an atrocious crime. Then they got punished.