Within days of the 9-11 attacks on America, President George Bush declared the War on Terror. This two part series examines the role propaganda played leading up to Bush’s famous declaration and the subsequent invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.
Episode 1: An Unseen Enemy looks for clues as to why the 9-11 attacks took everyone by surprise. The First Gulf War and the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center are the starting point. Later in the nineties, there’s the emergence of Osama bin Laden and the attacks on the USS Cole and the American embassies. The September 11 attacks changed the world forever. In the aftermath, there’s an outpouring of sympathy for America. So the notion of invading Afghanistan to capture Osama Bin Laden is met with fairly widespread support. However, less than two years later, when the US President identifies a new target – Saddam Hussein – this new war is a much tougher sell.
Episode 2: Mission Unaccomplished picks up the story with the Invasion of Iraq – the so-called Shock and Awe campaign. It shows explores how the US government tried – and failed miserably – to ‘stage manage’ the war. The “quick surgical strike” the Americans hoped for never materialized. The war drags on. At the same time, al Qaeda discover a new weapon for spreading propaganda – cyberspace. The internet is used to recruit, train and inspire individuals around the world – sometimes with deadly consequences...