Champion of Afghan fighters ‘goodtime Charlie’ dies
Fulsome tributes poured in for Charlie Wilson, who despite a playboy image, became an influential player in the Cold War, funnelling billions of dollars in weapons to the Afghan mujahideen through a secret CIA programme.
His exploits became the subject of the 2007 movie adaptation of a book chronicling his efforts, starring Tom Hanks as Wilson and Julia Roberts as the Houston socialite Joanne Herring who inspired him to help the Afghans.
