After 9/11, the Bush administration vowed to do everything in its power to prevent another attack. But more than a decade later — and after billions of dollars have been spent on counter-terrorism efforts — are we safer? And if so, why weren’t authorities able to use intelligence they had on Tamerlan Tsarnaev to prevent the Boston Marathon bombing?
Richard Clarke, former National Coordinator for Security, Infrastructure Protection and Counterterrorism tells FRONTLINE, “You can look, if you’re objective at all of this money and all of this effort and say, ‘What would’ve happened if we hadn’t done that?’ In almost every case, nothing would have happened.”
Clarke is just one of many experts interviewed in “Top Secret America: 9/11 to the Boston Bombings.” The documentary, which airs tonight, follows the reporting of Dana Priest, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter for The Washington Post. She is also co-author of “Top Secret America: The Rise of the New American Security State.” She tells The Takeaway where the United States war on terror stands now, nearly a dozen years after 9/11.
The article you just read is free because dedicated readers and listeners like you chose to support our nonprofit newsroom. Our team works tirelessly to ensure you hear the latest in international, human-centered reporting every weekday. But our work would not be possible without you. We need your help.
Make a gift today to help us raise $67,000 by the end of the year and keep The World going strong. Every gift will get us one step closer to our goal!