Local opinion: Friends today, enemies tomorrow and a mule for Abdul

Things change rapidly in global politics. Allies become enemies. Enemies become friends. It’s not easy to remember that at one time we were rooting for Afghanistan to win its war … the one with Russia in the 1980s.

During that time, I was in Phoenix making TV infomercials. You know, those 30-minute shows that run late at night with pitches for weight loss products, real estate courses, kitchen gadgets and the like. Earlier in my TV career I had done commercials for various candidates, so I was known among the local politicos. One day in 1987 I got a call from Sam Steiger, a controversial former five-term U.S. Congressman from Prescott.

He remembered that I handled TV for his opponent in a previous election. “No hard feelings,” he said. “I know you are big in infomercials, and I have an idea, come over and see me.”

So, I did. Sam told me he represented a group who was interested in helping the Afghan rebels in their battle with the Russian Army. He said it was amazing how these people could ride on mules and take out Russian helicopters with shoulder mounted rocket launchers.

“Imagine,” he said, “Here are these semi-literate rebels shooting down expensive state-of-the-art helicopters … riding on mules! On mules! And I don’t believe our country is doing enough to help.” Those were the days when Republicans were adamant about “beating those Commies.”

He talked about the guy who was in charge, “a dynamic young freedom fighter.” He told me his name, but it was one of those strange sounding Arabic monikers that I could never remember.

His idea was to produce an infomercial with 800 phone number so viewers could call and donate money to buy mules for the freedom fighter and his ragtag band. He wanted to call the program “A Mule for Abdul.” He said we could sneak a film crew into Afghanistan through Pakistan to interview the leader. He thought it would be easy to do since hardly anybody knew where the border was anyway. Was I interested?

Sure, I was, but I told him it would be very costly. He said to get him details and some figures and he would get the money.

I called my favorite local producer/director Maurie Helle and told him about the project. He was always game for unusual video shoots and said he could get the people to do it. He gave me a price.

Sam and I met again and I presented the details. He said he would get back to me within a week. Time passed and no response. After many tries, I finally reached him. “Can’t do it,” he said, “My donors are too nervous. Something about it being illegal for US citizens to get involved in foreign wars.”

So that was the end of it.

Years went by and I never gave it another thought. Not until Sept. 11, 2001. As I watched New York’s Twin Towers crash to the ground a chill ran down my spine when I heard the name that I had long forgotten … the name of that young Afghan freedom fighter I almost raised money for: Osama Bin Laden.