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India Today
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
American Manhunt review: Riveting documentary about hunt for Laden that hits home
Seldom does a documentary look like a feature film at every step of its way. The dramatisation and reality don't often go hand-in-hand, but in 'American Manhunt - Osama bin Laden', all the walls get broken to present a fact-by-fact, and a step-by-step hunt for a man deemed the World's Most Wanted for a very long the new Netflix documentary, effectively limited to three episodes, you just don't see what conspired on the CIA desk, and inside the White House's Situation Room, but also inside the minds of those who spent over a decade of their lives hunting down bin Laden, the mastermind of the 9/11 attack in the US. You see the real-life footage of the attack - the Twin Towers being hit by passenger flights and crumbling down to ashes in no time. While the political jargon and the defence expertise keep you hooked, it's how the documentary humanises the 'hunt' that makes it more thrilling and fear among the masses, the spirit of a nation ready to bring their perpetrators to justice, and the authorities busy learning and unlearning on their journey to hunt the man - everything comes alive in the documentary. It's not about the facts for us, because that, we know. It's about going deeper into the psyche of people associated with the hunt, tracing the length and the depth of their wounds that kept festering for over a decade, until that morning of ultimate healing, after Operation Neptune Spear, when Obama announced that the world's hunt was finally documentary makes you sit on the edge of your seat throughout the entire time. It swiftly moves on like a channel of insiders passing on critical information, and ends up being a massive entertainer - informative and Before watching the documentary, and realising its depth, one has to realise the magnitude of the attack itself. 9/11 is considered the largest terrorist attack in modern history. It claimed over 3,000 innocent lives - children, women, foreigners and businesspeople - out there to start yet another day at what was called the 'World Trade Centre'. The incident sent the entire world into mourning, and also began a phase of terror which didn't spare any part of the world, worked without selection and thrived on fear, chaos, and indiscriminate documentary features victims of the attack wrapped in ashes, the survivors howling in the background as a TV reporter captures one of the towers collapsing right behind him. At that moment, the incident became more than an attack on the world's largest economy. It becomes an attack on humanity, an attempt at introducing a new order in a world marred by fear, division and the erosion of global three-part series travels from George W. Bush's reign to Barack Obama's, and much like the mission itself, it never flinches from its goal: the capturing of bin Laden. It is told from the perspective of the CIA officials and the defence personnel in-charged with the mission to capture the notorious Al-Qaeda leader, who was first hiding in Afghanistan before Pakistan sheltered him and his family in Abbotabad, near their military are largely treated to interviews with CIA officials, counterterrorism analysts and military personnel, notably Tracy Walder, Michael Morell, Kevin Shaeffer, and the most memorable - Navy SEAL Robert O'Neil - who is believed to have fired the bullet that killed bin the most haunting of them all remains the one featuring Donald Rumsfeld, US Secretary of Defence, who escaped the third attack on the same day, at the Pentagon, and, in his own words, "flat-lined twice" on the operating 'American Manhunt', we see everything playing right in front of our eyes. The suffering, spirit, action, desperation, hope, promises, disappointment and at last, the sigh of relief - everything is visible and becomes personal. The timing of the release of this documentary makes it even more real, especially for Indians who continue to reel from the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack of April 22, which claimed 26 lives, and was planned and carried out by The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of another Pakistan-backed, UN-designated terror outfit - Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).advertisementThe documentary offers a stark, unvarnished portrayal of the entire mission - steering clear of any glorification. It doesn't shy away from showing that it took the US an entire decade to track down their attacker, a delay shaped significantly by internal political strife. From blame games within the cabinet to the critical turning points that defined the mission, the series captures how some lost hope while others chose to slow see the staging of a makeshift compound to replay every possible scenario before going for the actual attack on the adversary, and you know that the documentary will never let you settle. The three episodes bring alive a nation's prolonged pursuit of justice - one constantly and considerably beaten by its own internal like 9/11 don't require added dramatisation. While crafting a documentary around such tragedies, there's no need for stylistic embellishments or fictionalised storytelling, because the reality is already intense and heartbreaking enough to drive a compelling narrative.'American Manhunt', about one of the world's most significant manhunts, hits close to home at a time when India endures its own moments of grief and resilience. The documentary resonates beyond America. It reminds us that justice may be delayed, but the quest of it restores faith.
Indian Express
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Netflix's new Osama bin Laden series: Why the US didn't inform Pakistan govt about its mission in Abbottabad
A new Netflix documentary series titled American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden recalls how the US government captured the 'Most Wanted' terrorist in the world following the 9/11 attacks. The three-part series covers the decade between the 2001 attacks and bin Laden's killing at the hands of US forces in Abbottabad, Pakistan, in 2011. It features CIA officials and key figures in the administrations of US Presidents George Bush and Barack Obama. It also briefly touches upon why Obama decided against alerting the Pakistan government about his decision to raid what they suspected to be bin Laden's residence on the night of May 2, 2011. What was the rationale for the US's decision? And what was Pakistan's level of awareness about bin Laden living less than 150km from the military headquarters in Rawalpindi? Here is what officials and reports have found over the years. The United States began the mission to find Laden even before the September 11 attacks on the Twin Towers and the Pentagon (headquarters of the US Department of Defence). Around 3,000 Americans died in what was the biggest terror attack on US soil. Bin Laden, who hailed from Saudi Arabia, was known to US intelligence agencies because of his links to funding mujahideen. As far back as 1996, the CIA's Counter-Terrorist Centre (CTC) set up a special unit dedicated to analysing his actions in the Middle East and Africa. In the late 1990s, he shifted base to Afghanistan and formed al-Qaeda, intending to wage global jihad. The US government had earlier supported mujahideens in the country to push back against Soviet presence (1979-89). However, bin Laden was of the view that the United States was the real enemy that needed to be targeted for its interference in the Middle East, and its supposed incompatibility with Islamic values. The manhunt intensified right after 2001, with US officials believing that the Taliban government was sheltering al-Qaeda and bin Laden, and ultimately dislodging it from power. However, bin Laden remained at large. Finally, towards the end of the 2000s, his presence in Pakistan was zeroed in on through several clues, including tracking courier movements and satellite imagery. This information led US intelligence officers to a three-story white mansion in Abbottabad, which had two families going in and out, but seemed to house a third set of inhabitants. It had high walls and a covered balcony, which stood out in a town known for its scenic views of mountains. However, US agencies still lacked definitive proof. The decision for the US SEAL Team 6, a specialised force, to reach Abbottabad via Afghanistan and not inform the Pakistan government was thus further complicated. The Obama war cabinet gave mixed opinions on going in without concrete evidence. Then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lent her support, while Vice President Joe Biden opposed it. Ultimately, Obama decided in favour of it. John Brennan, who was the chief counterterrorism advisor to Obama at the time of the mission, said in the documentary, 'President Obama was clear that we're not going to inform the Pakistanis, because Pakistani intelligence has worked both sides of the fence for many years, and they had relationships with a lot of the militant and terrorist groups in the areas, including with al-Qaeda.' In his book A Promised Land (2020), Obama detailed this view. Even during the 2008 presidential campaign, he said during a public debate, 'If I had Osama bin Laden in my sights within Pakistani territory, and the Pakistani government was unwilling or unable to capture or kill him, I would take the shot.' He criticised the Bush administration for maintaining 'the dual fiction that Pakistan was a reliable partner in the war against terrorism and that we never encroached on Pakistani territory in the pursuit of terrorists.' A report by Bruce Riedel, a former National Intelligence Officer, is also mentioned in the book. It said that 'Not only did the Pakistan military (and in particular its intelligence arm, ISI) tolerate the presence of Taliban headquarters and leadership in Quetta, near the Pakistani border, but it was also quietly assisting the Taliban as a means of keeping the Afghan government weak and hedging against Kabul's potential alignment with Pakistan's archrival, India.' However, the US was still dependent on Pakistan for overland routes to supply their Afghanistan operations, and to 'tacitly facilitate our counterterrorism efforts against al-Qaeda camps within its territory.' Still, Obama was clear that for the bin Laden mission, 'Whatever option we chose could not involve the Pakistanis. Although Pakistan's government cooperated with us on a host of counterterrorism operations… it was an open secret that certain elements inside the country's military, and especially its intelligence services, maintained links to the Taliban and perhaps even al-Qaeda.' He added, 'The fact that the Abbottabad compound was just a few miles from the Pakistan military's equivalent of West Point (the Pakistan Military Academy) only heightened the possibility that anything we told the Pakistanis could end up tipping off our target. Whatever we chose to do in Abbottabad, then, would involve violating the territory of a putative ally in the most egregious way possible, short of war— raising both the diplomatic stakes and the operational complexities.' In the immediate aftermath of the mission, the Pakistani government denied having any information about bin Laden's whereabouts. Husain Haqqani, Pakistan's Ambassador to the US in 2011, later claimed that Pakistan would have gained in terms of its credibility on terror-related issues by cooperating on bin Laden, and would have actually helped the US if it knew his location. Several commentators have questioned the possibility of the Pakistan government being totally unaware. A report in The New York Times claimed in 2014 that over time, US officials would deny any culpability of the Pakistani government to journalists. 'It was as if a decision had been made to contain the damage to the relationship between the two governments,' it said. One source also told The NYT that the ISI 'ran a special desk assigned to handle Bin Laden. It was operated independently, led by an officer who made his own decisions and did not report to a superior.' Further, the files collected from bin Laden's house revealed regular correspondence between Bin Laden and leaders such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) founder Hafiz Saeed, whom the Pakistan government is known to have supported in the past. On its part, Pakistan set up a commission of inquiry after the Abbottabad raid. Its contents were never made public, but Al Jazeera claimed to have unearthed it in 2014. It said, 'The Commission's 336-page report is scathing, holding both the government and the military responsible for 'gross incompetence' leading to 'collective failures' that allowed both Bin Laden to escape detection, and the United States to perpetrate 'an act of war'.'
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
‘Best docu-series ever': Netflix's American Manhunt Osama bin Laden shocks and thrills viewers
Netflix's American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden has taken the streaming world by storm, with viewers hailing it as the 'best docu-series ever.' Following a long-awaited release on the OTT platform, this gripping series offers an in-depth look into the decade-long hunt for the one of the world's most wanted terrorists. Since its release, audiences have been binge-watching the show, recommending it as a must-watch for the weekend. Many are calling it 'wild,' with viewers sharing that it sent chills down their spines. Viewers call Netflix's American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden 'best docu-series ever' Taking to X, viewers who watched the episodes called it an absolute must-watch, praising the series for its detailed storytelling and gripping narrative. Many also highlighted how the topic itself is both fascinating and horrifying, as it delves into the events surrounding 9/11 with powerful insight. One wrote, 'Just watched American Manhunt Osama bin Laden, one of the best documentaries I've watched in a while.' Just watched American Manhunt Osama bin Laden, one of the best documentaries I've watched in a while, shows you how hard the CIA really worked to kill this piece of shit! What a documentary man!! American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden on Netflix was a really good watch. You'll never guess the person who was against the final mission to eliminate bin Laden not because of the danger and lives of the seals, but because of foreign relations A second went on to add, 'American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden on Netflix is an absolute must watch. Top tier content.' That new doc american manhunt about 9/11 n osama bin laden on netflix is craaazy 🤯 I had to pause it so many times to gather my thoughts This American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden series is WILD!!!! #americanmanhunt Literally 20 min into American Manhunt: Osama Bin Laden, I feel this is going to be the most watched documentary on Netflix. Top stuff A third went on to add, 'That new doc american manhunt about 9/11 n osama bin laden on netflix is craaazy. I had to pause it so many times to gather my thoughts' Who appears in American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden? The series presents interviews with key intelligence agents and Special Forces members involved in the global pursuit of the al-Qaida leader. It features firsthand accounts from former CIA, Department of Defense, and FBI officials, including Leon Panetta and Henry A. Crumpton. Journalists like former ABC reporter John Miller and Nayyera Haq, a former State Department spokesperson, also share their perspectives. The documentary further includes insights from White House officials such as Ben Rhodes, who served as deputy national security advisor during President Barack Obama's tenure.
Indian Express
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
American Manhunt – Osama bin Laden review: Netflix series could lowkey be a CIA-funded propaganda piece, but it's undeniably thrilling
Every single high-ranking official who appears in American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden — and there certainly is a murderer's row of them — knows that they are in a Netflix documentary. They're prone to speaking in blurbs; in declarations and pronouncements, almost as if they want to make sure that they make the cut. The sprawling three-episode series, which was suspiciously released two months after it was supposed to, traces the decade-long hunt for Osama bin Laden, the notorious Al Qaeda leader who remained, for a long period of time, the most wanted man in the world. At the peak of America's war on terror, there was a $25 million price on his head. Bin Laden kept taunting the Americans for years, somehow evading capture despite having being driven out of his stronghold in Afghanistan following the 9/11 attacks. The documentary series begins on the fateful day when two passenger airliners crashed into the World Trade Centre, while another hit the Pentagon. A fourth plane, United 93, crashed into a field in Pennsylvania after passengers overpowered the hijackers and took control of the cockpit. It was the worst terrorist attack in modern history, resulting in the deaths of nearly 3,000 people. President George W. Bush vowed to bring those responsible to justice, and essentially gave the Central Intelligence Agency carte blanche to capture or kill bin Laden. Also read – The Greatest Rivalry – India vs Pakistan review: Boys played well, but Netflix's cricket documentary is run out by randomness The series is told almost entirely from the perspective of CIA officials who were closely involved in the operation to hunt bin Laden down. Jessica Chastain played a composite of these women in Zero Dark Thirty, director Kathryn Bigelow's brawny epic about the manhunt. Also featured are the operatives who found themselves on-ground in Afghanistan mere weeks after the attacks. Admiral William McRaven, who oversaw the raid on bin Laden's compound, makes an appearance as well. But, perhaps most impressively, so does Robert O'Neill, the Navy SEAL who has controversially claimed that he was the man who — spoiler alert — shot and killed bin Laden. This is when the leadership of the CIA was handed over to Leon Panetta, who served under President Barack Obama as the director of the CIA when bin Laden was located in Pakistan. He appears quite prominently in the third episode. The access that directors Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan is stunning, quite frankly. And even though the talking heads don't really reveal any new information — they're obviously beholden to details that have been declassified — there is an undeniable thrill to hearing the oft-told tale straight from the horse's mouth. At the same time, however, you can't help but come up with conspiracy theories of your own. How was Netflix able to get this sort of access in the first place? This isn't Formula 1 we're talking about; the CIA is perhaps one of the most secretive organisations in the world. It took them nearly 20 years, for instance, to declassify documents related to the operation that inspired the film Argo. But while you might be familiar with the broad strokes of the bin Laden manhunt, the devil's in the details. Take, for instance, counterterrorism specialist Cofer Black's recollection of how he was appointed the head of the task force. During a meeting with Bush and his cabinet mere days after 9/11, Black wiggled his way towards the table — he was originally made to sit by the wall — and told Bush something to the effect of, 'Give me six weeks and I'll have insects crawling out of his eyes.' Bush had found his man. But Black admitted that the president's decision didn't go down too well with Secretary of Defence, Donald Rumsfeld. According to Black, this resentment was perhaps the reason why Rumsfeld refused to send military support to the CIA when they'd cornered bin Laden in the Tora Bora mountains. The operatives featured in the show don't hesitate to express their anger at being left hanging by Rumsfeld. They had bin Laden in their sights. Internal politics allowed him to slip away. The CIA lost his scent after the Battle of Tora Bora, but when Obama was elected into office, he made tracking bin Laden down a priority once again. Read more – The Octopus Murders review: Complex and compelling, Netflix's true crime docu-series uncovers the 'biggest conspiracy in history' The series switches gears in the feature-length final episode, which is dedicated entirely to the final stage of the manhunt, during which the Agency discovered that bin Laden was likely hiding out in Abbottabad. They accessed this intel by utilising 'enhanced interrogation techniques', which is the more polite word for 'torture'. Much has been said about this topic over the years, but the Netflix series marks perhaps the first time that multiple CIA officials go on the record to express their regret for what happened. One analyst even claims to have voiced her dissent when bin Laden's trusted crony, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, was being tortured at Guantanamo Bay. Lowkey a glossy propaganda piece designed to whitewash the CIA's image and absolve it of dropping the ball — 9/11 wasn't an intelligence failure, the folks in the show definitively declare — American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden is undeniably thrilling. The Agency has a history of using films, literature, and music to shape and control narratives; it only makes sense for them to go where the audience is. American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden Directors – Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan Rating – 3.5/5 Rohan Naahar is an assistant editor at Indian Express online. He covers pop-culture across formats and mediums. He is a 'Rotten Tomatoes-approved' critic and a member of the Film Critics Guild of India. He previously worked with the Hindustan Times, where he wrote hundreds of film and television reviews, produced videos, and interviewed the biggest names in Indian and international cinema. At the Express, he writes a column titled Post Credits Scene, and has hosted a podcast called Movie Police. You can find him on X at @RohanNaahar, and write to him at He is also on LinkedIn and Instagram. ... Read More
New Indian Express
16-05-2025
- New Indian Express
'American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden' reveals details of decade-long search
The highly anticipated third chapter of the American Manhunt documentary series, titled American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden, was released on Netflix on May 14. The three-episode series, directed by Mor Loushy and Daniel Sivan, delves into the international search for Osama bin Laden, the founder of the extremist Islamist organisation al-Qaeda, after he was implicated in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. On that tragic day, dubbed as 9/11 terror, four planes were hijacked by terrorists, with two crashing into the World Trade Center towers in New York City, another into the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and the fourth crashing into a field in rural Pennsylvania. The coordinated attacks, carried out by al-Qaeda militants based in Afghanistan, resulted in the deaths of over 3,000 people, including passengers and crew members of the hijacked planes, those in the targeted buildings, as well as police officers, firefighters, and others who succumbed to injuries and long-term health effects from toxic fumes. The ten-year search for bin Laden, one of the most notorious terrorists in history, is explored in the documentary through interviews with key US government officials who were involved in the operation to track him down. The series offers an in-depth look at the extensive efforts made by various agencies to bring bin Laden to justice.
