Ep 18. Top Secret America - 9/11 to the Boston Bombings

In Frontline season 29 episode 18, titled "Top Secret America: 9/11 to the Boston Bombings", the show takes a look at the immense growth and development of America's national security infrastructure in the wake of the September 11th terrorist attacks. Through interviews with key officials and experts, as well as a thorough analysis of government documents, the show delves into the intricate web of secret agencies, private contractors, and intelligence programs that have sprung up in the name of protecting the country from future attacks.

The episode begins by exploring the aftermath of 9/11, and the sense of urgency that swept through the government and the public alike. As officials like former CIA director George Tenet and former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff describe, the attacks exposed major gaps in America's security apparatus and raised the question of how to prevent such a tragedy from happening again. The show then moves on to detail the staggering expansion of the national security state that followed, with a focus on the ways in which intelligence gathering shifted from traditional methods (such as human assets and wiretaps) to more high-tech methods (such as data mining and surveillance drones).

One of the key themes of the episode is the role of private contractors in this new world of national security. As the show explains, after 9/11 there was a surge in demand for intelligence services, which led to an equally massive growth in the number of private companies providing these services. This, in turn, created a complex and often opaque system of contracts and subcontracts, with companies like Booz Allen Hamilton and SAIC playing a crucial role in the government's intelligence-gathering efforts. The show examines the pros and cons of relying on private contractors in this way, and raises important questions about accountability and oversight in an increasingly privatized intelligence landscape.

Another major topic covered in the episode is the tension between national security and civil liberties. As the government fanned out across the country in search of potential terrorists, the show explains, they often found themselves confronted with privacy concerns and constitutional questions. The NSA's warrantless wiretapping program, in particular, drew criticism from civil libertarians and sparked a heated debate about the balance between security and individual rights. The episode examines the nuances of this debate, as well as the broader question of how America's national security state has evolved in the years since 9/11.

Finally, the episode turns its attention to the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, which serves as a kind of case study for everything the show has been exploring. As the show explains, the bombing touched off a massive investigation involving multiple federal agencies and private contractors, as well as a massive influx of intelligence data. The show examines the ways in which this data was processed and analyzed, and the challenges faced by investigators in trying to make sense of such a massive amount of information. The episode also shows how the Boston bombing served as a kind of litmus test for the national security apparatus, putting into sharp relief both the strengths and weaknesses of America's security infrastructure.

Ultimately, "Top Secret America: 9/11 to the Boston Bombings" offers a gripping and thought-provoking look at one of the most significant developments in American history: the rise of the national security state. Through a careful examination of key events and interviews with key players, the show provides a nuanced and deeply informed perspective on the complex issues surrounding national security, privacy, and civil liberties in modern America.