The 9/11 Decade: The Intelligence War

In The First Of Three Films On The Aftermath Of 9/11, We Examine The Highs and Lows Of The Intelligence War.

Special Series
Last Modified: 29 Aug 2011 13:22
Courtesy Of "Al-Jazeera"



Immediately after 9/11, the US announced that 'the gloves were coming off' in the fight against al-Qaeda. A unique Presidential Finding gave the CIA greater powers than it had enjoyed in its history.

Electronic eavesdropping, kidnap, rendition and water-boarding were the results.

This film explores how the CIA fought al-Qaeda in the shadows, focusing on the monitoring of its communications, the group's escape from Tora Bora and the problems this raised.

We examine the highs and lows of the intelligence war, revealing how the US nearly lost outright in 2003 and how al-Qaeda negated its own advances through a bloody campaign to eliminate Iraq's Shias.

This episode airs from Tuesday, August 30, at the following times GMT: Tuesday: 2000; Wednesday: 1200; Thursday: 0100; Friday: 0600; Saturday: 2000; Sunday: 1200; Monday: 0100; Tuesday: 0600.

Episode 2: The Image War
A PR stunt which killed thousands and launched a propaganda war that has, so far, lasted a decade.

Since 9/11, the US and al-Qaeda have competed furiously to win 'hearts and minds' with elaborate media strategies.

Spin, threats, lies, censorship, the killing of journalists ... how far has each side been prepared to go to win the propaganda war?

This episode airs from Tuesday, September 6, at the following times GMT: Tuesday: 2000; Wednesday: 1200; Thursday: 0100; Friday: 0600; Saturday: 2000; Sunday: 1200; Monday: 0100; Tuesday: 0600.

Episode 3: The Clash of Civilisations?
In 1998, Osama bin Laden and Ayman Zawahiri declared war on the US, outlining a philosophy of the clash of civilisations which legitimised attacks on the US and its allies.

In the US, a group of politicians, who were to become known as the Neocons, believed they too had a moral duty to change the world.

Both groups found their opportunity in the attacks of 9/11 and the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. But both were to see their dreams perish with the increasing human cost of these wars and the reality that ideologies without popular support cannot change the world.

This episode airs from Tuesday, September 13, at the following times GMT: Tuesday: 2000; Wednesday: 1200; Thursday: 0100; Friday: 0600; Saturday: 2000; Sunday: 1200; Monday: 0100; Tuesday: 0600.