Charlie Wilson

Charlie Wilson, the former U.S. Representative who was most well known for his support of mujahedeen fighters in Afghanistan during the 1980′s, died of a heart attack on Wednesday.

Wilson was 76 years old when he passed away in Lufkin, a city in his home district.

Charlie Wilson

Wilson’s vocal support for the Afghan mujahedeen fighters helped convince the U.S. government to spending billions of dollars on weapons to support the fighters. In the 1980′s, the mujahedeen were fighting against the Soviets, who wanted to occupy Afghanistan.

After the Soviets retreated and the war ended, the U.S. drastically reduced funding for the Afghans. Wilson believed that this reduction in funding inspired some resentment among the Afghans. Years later, Afghanistan would be the place where the Taliban came to power and the place where Osama Bin Laden reportedly planned the 9/11 attacks.

Among the weapons that Wilson helped procure for the mujahedeen were Stinger missiles that could be used to bring down Soviet aircraft, including helicopter gunships.

In the movie “Charlie Wilson’s War” Wilson is portrayed as something of a womanizer, drawn to excess and drugs. In the 1980′s, the Justice Department conducted a formal investigations into allegations that Wilson used drugs, but the investigations did not result in an indictment.