Why did the United States support the reign of Joseph Mobutu?

Check this site.

http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0833515.html

To understand why the United States supported the reign of Joseph Mobutu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly known as Zaire), you can refer to the provided link. It contains an article that provides detailed information on this topic.

1. Open the website by clicking on the provided link.
2. Once the page loads, scroll down to find the relevant information.
3. Read through the article to gain an understanding of the reasons behind the U.S. support for Mobutu.

The article on infoplease.com should provide the historical context and reasons why the United States backed Joseph Mobutu's regime. It may cover factors such as Cold War politics, anti-communism, strategic interests in Central Africa, and Mobutu's perceived stability and cooperation. By reading through the article, you should be able to find a comprehensive answer to your question.