New Documentaries Examine Anti-Terror Efforts In U.S. And Iraq (NAPSA)—As the War on Terror enters its third year, television’s premier documentary series opensits fall season with two new, war-related programs: a look at the ongoing war in Iraq and an investigation of possible terrorist activity here in the U.S. In “Truth, War, and Consequences,” premiering Tuesday, October 9, at 9 p.m. on PBS (check local listings), Frontline offers viewers an inside look at how America’s prewarplans for a post-Saddam Iraq have fallen prey to government infighting, local factionalism and the war’s destruction. “Winning the war in Iraq was easy,” said Martin Smith, producer for “Truth, War, and Consequences.” “But winning the peace may be another matter.” Through interviews with top administration officials and Iraqi opposition leaders, “Truth, War, and Consequences” examines the reasons the United States went to war, and assesses America’s chances for successfully establishing a stable, “Saddam-free” government. Then on October 16, at 9 p.m., Frontline turns its lens back on the United States to investigate a group that U.S. intelligence has called “the most dangerousterrorist cell in America.” In “Chasing the Sleeper Cell,” Frontline and The New York Times join forces for the first, in-depth examination of a major, ongoing domestic terrorism case involving Al Qaeda agents operating within the United States. “For thefirst time, the counterterrorism cops and their quarry X _ D ad A look at the war in Iraq airs October 9. talk on camera and on the record about a case that the U.S. government says was the most important and decisive blow against Al Qaeda here at home since 9/11,” says Frontline and New York Times reporter Lowell Bergman. “But many in the intelligence community disagree. They say the way this case was handled is a prime example of why the FBIis not up to the job and that we need a new domestic counter-intelligence and counter-espionage agency.” Each of the new documentaries will be accompanied by a comprehensive, stand-alone Web site at www.pbs.org/frontline. Complete with interviews, maps, timelines, background information, and links to additional resources, the sites aim to provide viewers with additional context and information on the Waron Terror. “The Frontline Web site is really a work of enormous depth and value,” said David Fanning, Frontline’s creator and executive producer. “By publishing fulllength interviews and research as well as original content online, we make our journalism transparent to the viewer. We’re also beginning to preserve entire documentaries online so that people can view them at any time from anywhere around the world.” Now celebrating its 20th anniversary on PBS, Frentline’s 480 documentaries have explored topies as diverse as the Whitewater scandal to the question of Shakespeare’s authorship. Along the way, the series has established a reputation for producing thoughtprovoking and compelling documentaries on the key issues and events of our times. That reputation was confirmed, Fanning said, in the days and weeks after September 11, when the staff worked around the clock to produce seven, hour-long documentaries, each of which examined a different facet on the War on Terror. For its efforts, Frontline’s War on Terror documentaries received the 2003 duPont-Columbia Gold Baton—the “Pulitzer Prize” of broadcast journalism. Noting that the first documentary in the series, “Hunting bin Laden,” aired just two days after September 11, the duPont-Columbia jury praised Frontline for “validating the role of television news in a democracy.” “Twenty years ago, I never would have imagined that Frontline would still be here,” Fanning said. “It’s a testament to the unwavering support we've received from PBS and from the talented and energetic reporters and producers who dedicate themselves to bringing these important stories to the American public.”
