Frontline Season 21 Episode 13 The War Behind Closed Doors

In episode 13 of season 21 of the show Frontline, titled "The War Behind Closed Doors," the viewer is taken deep into the complex and secretive world of the United States government's intelligence agencies. The episode explores the activities of these agencies since the September 11 terrorist attacks, with a particular focus on the controversial methods employed in the pursuit of information about potential threats to national security.

The episode begins with an overview of the various intelligence agencies that make up the so-called "intelligence community," including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the National Security Agency (NSA). The viewer is introduced to some of the key players in these agencies, including high-ranking officials who have been involved in the government's response to terrorist threats.

The episode then delves into the specific methods used by these agencies to gather intelligence, including the use of electronic surveillance, interrogations, and the collection of data from various sources. The viewer is given a glimpse of some of the ways in which these methods have been used in the "war on terror," including the controversial use of waterboarding and other "enhanced interrogation techniques" on suspected terrorists.

The episode also examines the ways in which the intelligence community has come under fire for its activities. In particular, the viewer is shown how the government's actions have raised concerns about civil liberties and human rights, with critics arguing that the methods employed by the agencies are unconstitutional and inhumane.

Despite this criticism, however, the episode suggests that the government's intelligence efforts have been largely successful in preventing further attacks on U.S. soil. The viewer is shown how intelligence gathered through these efforts has led to the capture and prosecution of a number of suspected terrorists, as well as the disruption of numerous plots against the United States.

Throughout the episode, the viewer is presented with a complex and sometimes conflicting picture of the intelligence community's activities. On the one hand, the agencies are shown to be driven by a sincere desire to protect the United States from terrorism. On the other hand, the methods employed by these agencies can be brutal, and have raised serious doubts about their efficacy and legality.

Overall, "The War Behind Closed Doors" offers a nuanced and thought-provoking look at one of the most important issues facing the United States today. By shining a light on the hidden workings of the intelligence community, the episode seeks to spur discussion and debate about the proper balance between national security and civil liberties in the fight against terrorism.