Background and History of Afghanistan:
United States Policy in Afghanistan (1989-2001)

The United States policy towards Afghanistan has taken several distinct phases in the last two decades. Throughout the 1980's when Afghan Mujaheen fought the Soviet army, the United States government was heavily involved in Afghanistan affairs. The CIA, through the Pakistani ISI and military intelligence, funneled billions of dollars in economics and military aid to the Afghan Mujahedeen. Among the chief beneficiaries was the Hezb-e Islamic force, headed by Gulbeddin Hekmatyar and responsible for some of worst atrocities of the civil war. Despite the fact that the U.S. was clearly aware of extensive human rights violations by factions it aided, there is no evidence that any action was taken by the U.S. to prohibit Pakistan from distributing aid to the worst of the resistance forces or to criticize the Pakistani ISI for participating in abuses.

After the complete withdrawal of Soviet army from Afghan soil and the subsequent collapse of the Soviet Empire, thus end of the Cold War, the United States policy towards Afghanistan faded away and Washington's support for the insurgents ended. Suddenly, the entire international community walked away from Afghanistan and without a transitional government, Kabul fell on the hands of seven loosely united and heavily armed warring factions and their regional supporters. In an interview with CNN, Robert Gate, then CIA director said, "Afghanistan was a battle field between the United States and the Soviet Union, now that the battle is ended, we have other agendas and other countries in mind and Afghanistan is not one of them." The United States ignored Afghanistan for a decade allowing its regional allies, namely Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, to take advantage of the political vacuum created by the US retreat. Regional observers believe that the US strategic absence between 1992-1994 allowed the regional powers to support the competing warlords thereby intensifying the civil war.

Between 1994-1996, the U.S. supported the Taliban politically through its allies, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, for two reasons. The group's initial professed intention to clean up the drug trade was of interest, as was its anti-Iran stance. Perhaps most importantly, the Taliban appeared to be the faction most likely to provide security for an oil and gas pipeline project proposed by the U.S. Petroleum Company UNOCAL. UNOCAL officials applauded the fall of Kabul to the Taliban and expressed their eagerness to do business with the regime. Despite evidence of reported human rights abuses such as after the capture of Herat in 1995, Taliban authorities threw out thousands of girls and women from school and workforce. The United States not only remained silent, but also continued its support by allowing Pakistan and Saudi to back up Taliban in their conquest to capture Kabul.
http://www.globalwatchgroup.org/projects/afghanBackground11.html

Yes, it was horrible during that time, but not because the US abandoned the Afghans, they left was because they couldn`t get a pipeline.
When the next opportunity became available, (19 Saudis attacking the US) the US went right back.
It was never ever for the people of Afghanistan. The US has been funding turmoil around the globe for a long time, but only when it can benefit from the turmoil it itself creates.
Funny that the word "Turmoil" ends with OIL.
I`ve been reading Global Watch, whenever I need to get another perspective on things. I`ve linked to them a few times in the past 3/4 years, for all that that matters.

The difference between theists and atheists is that the atheists don't set the theists on fire for refusing to agree with them.