Ep 4. A Perfect Terrorist

In "A Perfect Terrorist," the fourth episode of Frontline's 30th season, viewers are taken on a gripping journey through the life of David Coleman Headley, a key player in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that left over 160 people dead. Headley, a charming, American-born Pakistani, had a unique background, having been raised by a mother who was a former beauty queen and a father who was a hardcore Islamist.

Through interviews with those who knew him and exclusive access to his private journal, Frontline sheds light on the evolution of Headley's extremism and his actions leading up to the Mumbai attacks. Headley's transformation from a fun-loving, drug-dealing party boy to a devoted jihadist is traced through his travels to Pakistan and eventually his entrance into the inner circles of al-Qaida.

What makes this episode particularly fascinating is the intricate nature of Headley's double life. While he was plotting attacks in India and Denmark, he was also running a profitable video store in Philadelphia and enlisting the help of his unsuspecting American friends in his terrorist activities. The show examines how Headley was able to deceive those closest to him and successfully navigate through multiple government agencies without being detected until it was too late.

The story of David Coleman Headley is not just one of a single terrorist, but of the broader issues of international intelligence gathering and cooperation. Frontline delves into how Headley was able to exploit flaws in counterterrorism policies between government agencies and among different countries. Through extensive research and interviews with key figures in the US and Indian governments, the episode shows how the lack of communication and coordination hampered efforts to thwart the Mumbai attacks and prevent future ones.

Overall, "A Perfect Terrorist" is a riveting examination of a man who managed to infiltrate the highest levels of al-Qaida, while also leading a double life in America. It raises important questions about intelligence-gathering and interagency cooperation and highlights the need for continued vigilance in the fight against global terrorism.