POWER OF NIGHTMARES, THE: THE RISE OF THE POLITICS OF FEAR: THE SHADOWS IN THE CAVE {PART 3 OF 3} (TV)
Summary
Part three in this three-part documentary series that explores whether a highly organized international terrorist network is real, or a fear-based illusion to be used for political gain, as developed by American neo-conservatives and radical Islamists. The movements are traced through archival film clips and interviews with political experts and scholars, cross-cutting between prominent Islamics and influential neo-conservatives from 1998 to 2004.
This episode begins as radical Islamists Ayman Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden put plans in motion for a jihad against the United States, starting with the bombing of American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania. In Manhattan, four men are put on trial in January 2001 -- and subsequently convicted -- for the bombings, while bin Laden is prosecuted in absentia. A former colleague of bin Laden, Jamal al-Fadi, testifies about the existence of al-Qaeda as an organization of terrorists led by bin Laden, though his testimony proves suspect. Jason Burke, author of "Al-Qaeda: Casting a Shadow of Terror," says no such organization existed at the time, nor was responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on New York City and Washington D.C. The attacks are the brainchild of Islamic militant Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, who sought financing and volunteers from bin Laden.
With a response led by Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, and Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, the neo-conservatives come back into power. America subsequently invades Afghanistan and becomes allies with warlords known as the Northern Alliance in a battle against the Taliban. Troops bomb the mountains of Tora Bora seeking bin Laden and his subterranean fortress, but no evidence is found of its existence, even after British troops join the cause. Attention turns to finding "sleeper cells" in America, with thousands detained and accused of being terrorists waiting to strike. Convictions are overturned because, according to defense lawyer William Swor, "it was all a fantasy that was politically expedient to sell." Similar results occur in England, with Bill Durodie, director of the International Center for Security Analysis at King's College, noting: "I'm not saying that an atrocity might not happen on the British mainland ... but we have an exaggerated perception of the possibility of terrorism that is quite disabling. We have only to look at the evidence to understand that the figures simply don't bear out the way that we have responded as a society."
Islamists realize that by feeding the media frenzy, they can again become a powerful organization. Neo-conservatives then claim to find links between al-Qaeda and Saddam Hussein, leading to America's invasion of Iraq and the use of "the preventative paradigm," allowing for the jailing of individuals for crimes they might commit. As the series concludes, it's stated that politicians will continue to wield power by maintaining a fear of phantom enemies and worst-case nightmares for the world at large.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by The New York Times Company Foundation.
Details
- NETWORK: BBC2 (United Kingdom)
- DATE: November 3, 2004
- RUNNING TIME: 0:59:48
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:86898
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: International Collection - United Kingdom
- SERIES RUN: BBC2 (United Kingdom) - TV, 2004
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Peter Horrocks … Executive Producer
- Stephen Lambert … Executive Producer
- Adam Curtis … Producer, Director, Writer
- Hossam Al-Hamalawy … Researcher
- Satiyesh Manoharajah … Researcher
- Stuart Robertson … Researcher
- Neil Stevenson … Researcher
- Adam Curtis … Narrator
- Jamal al-Fadi
- bin Laden, Osama
- Jason Burke
- Dick Cheney
- Bill Durodie
- Saddam Hussein
- Khalid Shaikh Mohammad
- Donald Rumsfeld
- William Swor
- Paul Wolfowitz
- Ayman Zawahiri