Summary
Highlights
A price was placed on Osama bin Laden's head after 9/11. The video begins by tracking his last known movements in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, where he gathered tribal chiefs to resist American attacks. His former training camp, once a center for jihad, is now an Afghan army base. The remnants of al-Qaeda's presence, including a prison container with defiant messages, are shown, hinting at the planning of the 9/11 attacks in this very location.
The documentary obtains never-before-seen propaganda footage from al-Qaeda, explicitly showing Saeed al-Ghamdi, a 9/11 hijacker, training. It also reveals three other hijackers, Hamza al-Ghamdi, Waleed al-Shehri, and Ahmed al-Nami, planning the attacks, underscoring their commitment to dismantling the 'modern-day tyrant,' America.
The team travels to Tora Bora, guided by an interpreter they suspect to be untrustworthy. Their journey is fraught with tension as their 'security' detail, composed of cannabis-smoking militiamen, discusses eliminating them. A timely phone call from a commander saves the crew, revealing the volatile environment and the deep-seated animosity towards those perceived as foreign.
The famed Tora Bora mountains, where Bin Laden established his headquarters after 9/11, are explored. The caves, initially portrayed by the US army as impenetrable multi-story bunkers, are found to be simple, natural formations. Despite a massive offensive to dislodge him, Bin Laden and his men escaped into Pakistan, highlighting his knowledge of the terrain and local support.
Bin Laden's presence is then traced to Karachi, Pakistan's economic capital. The city is revealed as a haven for radical Islamists, with foreign media being unwelcome and dangerous, as evidenced by the kidnapping and murder of journalist Daniel Pearl. French intelligence warns the team about the city's dangers and the omnipresent surveillance.
The documentary details the arrest of Ramzi Ben Sheiba, a 9/11 conspirator, in Karachi, suggesting the Pakistani secret services were aware of his presence but acted only under US pressure. The team encounters a spokesman for Laskar e-Taïba, a blacklisted terrorist organization, operating openly. A visit to the Binori Town Mosque, run by Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai, 'Bin Laden's spiritual father,' exposes the calls for jihad against Jews and Crusaders.
Using a hidden camera, the team interviews Mufti Nizamuddin, who confirms Bin Laden is alive but evades questions about his location. His Koranic university, located within the mosque, is shown to be a breeding ground for future terrorists, openly training individuals of various nationalities, including French, and indoctrinating them with hatred and calls to arms.
The investigation moves to Quetta, a city near Afghanistan, where Taliban and al-Qaeda members have found refuge. An interview with a young Taliban leader reveals his conviction that Mullah Omar and Osama Bin Laden are alive and well. The documentary captures a madrassa class focusing on bizarre sexual teachings, juxtaposed with the indoctrination of young children to become 'mujahidin' fighting in the name of God.
Interviews with General Hamid Gul, former head of Pakistani secret services, and Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman, a prominent religious party spokesman, expose their unwavering support for jihad and Bin Laden. Gul describes Bin Laden as 'shy, sensitive, intelligent' and defends jihad as a 'liberation movement.' Rehman, despite denying knowledge of al-Qaeda, was previously seen urging support for Bin Laden and jihad.
The documentary concludes its search in Peshawar and the tribal areas of Waziristan, a lawless region where Bin Laden is believed to be hiding. Journalists are forbidden entry. Interviews with local Islamists confirm the presence of al-Qaeda members in Waziristan, moving freely between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and suggest Bin Laden is among them, protected by tribes who view him as a hero. The team's journey ends at a roadblock, unable to proceed into Waziristan. Weeks later, the Pakistani army and US forces surrounded Waziristan, launching an offensive, and Bin Laden re-emerged on tape, threatening the West, confirming his survival and continued influence.