PBS Presents ‘JIHAD: The Men and Ideas Behind Al Qaeda’
America at a Crossroads Series Starts at the Very Beginning
The first entry in PBS’ six-day-long America at a Crossroads series is the two-hour documentary JIHAD: The Men and Ideas Behind al Qaeda, an in-depth exploration of the backgrounds, motivations, and objectives of Al Qaeda’s three most prominent figures: leader Osama bin Laden, his second in command Ayman al-Zawahiri, and the group’s leader in Iraq, Abu Musab Al Zarqawi, who was killed by the United States Air Force last June during the bombing of an Iraqi safe house. The stated purpose of the film is to tell “the story of the birth and evolution of Al Qaeda, not through the second-hand reporting of Western journalists, but through powerful testimony from first-hand witnesses.”
In order to accomplish that goal, the prolific, experienced filmmakers—Emmy-winning writer and director William Cran, executive producer Clive Syddall, and co-producer Adam Lively—engage interviewees from a wide spectrum of occupations and nations, ranging from Khaled Batarfi, bin Laden’s childhood friend in Saudi Arabia, to Gary Bernsten, an American and 23-year CIA veteran. The individuals provide varying degrees of insightful commentary as a mostly chronological narrative depicts the evolution of the term jihad—from its roots as a frequent reference among Muslims to the personal struggle for self-improvement to the prevalent negative association with terrorism among Westerners today—under the influence of the Al Qaeda leadership’s continuously shifting ideological preoccupations.
Arguably, the most striking feature of the film, aside from assorted revealing details divulged by the interviewees, is the extensive footage of bin Laden, some previously unseen. His constant presence, especially near the end, gives the documentary a greater sense of immediacy as it covers the defining events that unfolded throughout the last eight decades, going all the way back to Saudi Arabia in 1930, primarily in the Middle East and Africa. Sensitive viewers should also know that while much of the video footage is moderate, there are numerous vivid images that depict active combat—complete with dead and bloody bodies and the jarring sound of weapons firing—and the aftermath of terrorist bombings, in addition to the 2001 attacks against the World Trade Center in New York.
The function of JIHAD: The Men and Ideas Behind Al Qaeda in the America at a Crossroads series is clear: it’s meant to serve as a logical starting point that offers a comprehensive summary of exactly what Al Qaeda is, who its major players are, and why the organization and its members are significant from historical, political, religious, social, and global standpoints. Consequently, people who are already well informed about those matters may find the documentary little more than a tedious overview of the obvious, with occasional new bits of information possibly emerging here and there. Those who have not taken the time or had the opportunity to learn about the driving forces behind the tragedies that occurred on September 11, 2001, however, will likely gain a deeper understanding of the issues and individuals involved. As with all works that attempt to deconstruct the complicated and controversial, not everyone will or does agree with everything the documentary presents. Still, the filmmakers who devoted two years to producing JIHAD: The Men and Ideas Behind Al Qaeda have created a relevant, multifaceted account of both jihad and Al Qaeda.
Related Article: America at a Crossroads: PBS Series Contemplates the Post-9/11 World
JIHAD: The Men and Ideas Behind al Qaeda premieres Sunday, April 15, at 9pm EST on PBS
PBS times may vary—Check your local listings to verify them
Ayman Zawahiri and Osama bin Laden photo courtesy of PBS
