PATH TO 9/11, THE {PART 1 OF 2} {TAPE 1 OF 2} (TV)

Summary

Tape one of two. Part one in this two-part miniseries, a dramatization of events leading up to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, based on sources which include the 9/11 Commission report and containing fictionalized scenes and composite characters. The program begins at Logan International Airport, Boston, at 7:13 a.m. on September 11 as Muhammad Atta gets his boarding pass, and is allowed admission to his flight despite a warning flag on the computer. Meanwhile, John P. O'Neill, director of security for the World Trade Center and retired FBI agent, arrives for work. In Florida, President George W. Bush is interviewed while jogging. At Dulles Airport in Washington D.C., at 7:15 a.m., Salem al-Hazmi is unable to present photo ID but still is allowed to board his flight. As the Boston and Washington D.C. flights prepare to take off, the terrorists communicate to make sure everything is going according to plan. Eight-and-a-half years earlier, on February 26, 1993, a Ryder truck with Palestinian engineer Ramzi Yousef in it, and filled with explosives, is parked in the garage underneath the World Trade Center and then detonated by Mahmoud "The Red" Abouhalima, an Egyptian cab driver, and Mohammad A. Salameh of Jordan. The resulting explosion rocks the World Trade Center, killing three and injuring many, though the towers remain standing. Emad Salem, an immigrant from Egypt, and Nancy Floyd, FBI special agent, watch the news reports. NY Fire House 10 is the first on the scene, while Salem calls Floyd, telling her that he was right when he reported the potential for a terrorist attack. Meanwhile, Yousef is shocked that fifteen-hundred pounds of explosives did not bring the towers down. Immediately, many militant organizations are blamed for the attacks, until Yousef calls in to to give the Fifth Battalion of the Liberation Army credit for perpetrating the act against America for its support of Israel. Floyd goes to the FBI's New York office to meet with Lou Napoli, a detective on the Joint Terrorism Task Force, and Neil Herman, FBI supervising special agent. Napoli wonders if Salem will come in to speak with them. Floyd is mad at the agency for "chucking" Salem, who was "the best mole in the Arab community." Meanwhile, explosion investigators find pieces from the Ryder truck, potentially offering some clues. Two NYPD bomb detonators, against orders, remove a piece from the crime scene that has a vehicle identification number on it. The VIN is tracked to havin been rented by Salameh in Jersey City. Napoli discusses Salameh's history and how he was a friend of the man that shot Rabbi Meir Kahane. Heading to the D.I.B. Leasing Agency in Jersey City on March 4, 1993, the FBI is able to take down Salameh when he returns to collect money for his "stolen" van. That evening, ABC news correspondent John Miller meets Herman for a drink, where Herman reveals that it's "B.S." and the shooting should have been prevented as Salameh and his cronies had been followed since the Kahane shooting. He notes that it's time to catch "the big fish." The next day, Salem speaks with the FBI, angered that they did not listen to him earlier. Floyd asks if they can reactivate him but he is unsure. The FBI wants Salem to lead them to Yousef and Abouhalima, offering $1.5 million. In Manila, Philippines, in 1993, Yousef's uncle, Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, fetes him, but Yousef notes that he has something better planned, a bomb that can blow up planes. Days later, Salem calls Floyd to report that Abouhalima is currently under arrest in Egypt and that she should also monitor the blind sheikh, Omar Abdel-Rahman. The FBI quickly extracts Abouhalima and brings him back to America. They question him about Rahman and Yousef. Salem tells the FBI that Rahman is making threats against America and should be arrested. Now, the FBI begins going after the "mastermind" Yousef, thinking him in Pakistan. Frank Pelligrino gives some further intelligence about the pursuit of Yousef. Pelligrino discusses Yousef's brazenness and how he has wanted to assassinate Benazir Bhutto and has even blown up a mosque in Iran. Yousef is now the FBI's most wanted man, believed to be hiding in the Philippines. On December 10, 1994, Yousef takes a flight out of the Philippines headed to Cebu City before ending in Tokyo. En route, Yousef rigs an explosive inside the lavatory, which he connects underneath his seat. Yousef gets off in Cebu City and the plane explodes when it lifts off for Toyko. O'Neill is immediately concerned. On January 6, 1995 in Manila, one of Yousef's men, Murad, accidentally starts a fire while working with explosives in his "bomb factory." The Manila police question Murad before arresting him and commandeering Yousef's laptop. Meanwhile, Richard Clarke, National Coordinator Counterterrorism, discusses the plans to limit all aspects of terrorist efforts. Clarke tells CIA Field Agent Kirk about the evidence found on Yousef's laptop, including plans to assassinate President Bill Clinton as well as hijack a dozen American airplanes. Clarke calls O'Neill, wanting some help with his lead on Yousef. O'Neill assembles a team to go after Yousef, while Herman realizes that it's a "new kind of war." At the U.S. Embassy, Islamabad, Pakistan, on February 4, 1995, a nervous informant named Ishtiak comes to Bill Miller of diplomatic security service. Ishtiak offers some information on Yousef, saying he doesn't want to see innocent people murdered. Bill Miller is unsure, wanting proof that he knows Yousef. Ishtiak then reveals his knowledge about Yousef's new laptop. Bill Miller speaks with O'Neill, claiming they need to move fast, but O'Neill first wants approval from Bhutto to extradite Yousef. Ishtiak is nervous to meet with Yousef to instigate the capture. When he finally does, Yousef shows him some explosives. Yousef gives marching orders to Ishtiak about going on a flight that evening to Bangkok before heading to America, where he will be expected to plant a bomb that will be exploded on a plane over the Pacific. Bill Miller quickly gets word, but Yousef changes his plans again. Ishtiak claims that Yousef is now planning to head for Afghanistan and not bomb any airplanes. Yousef says that he will meet Yousef at his hotel the next morning. Bill Miller calls O'Neill to advise that Yousef should be picked up at the hotel. The next day, Yousef says that he, Muhammed, and Ishtiak are going to Afghanistan to teach bomb-making to the Mujahadeen. Yousef says he will meet "the tall one" who finances their efforts. Then, Ishtiak emerges from the hotel and signals Bill Miller. Bill Miller calls O'Neill, but O'Neill is forced to wait due to orders from higher-ups. Bill Miller finally gets the go-ahead, after which his team enters the building and captures Yousef. Meanwhile, Ishtiak and his family are taken out of the country. Back in America, O'Neill learns that Yousef's fingerprints have postively identified him as being behind the World Trade Center bombing. Salameh is subsequently sentenced to a term of 240 years in prison, Abdel-Rahman is sentenced to life, and Abouhalima is sentenced to 240 years. At Yousef's trial, he admits he is a terrorist and claims to be proud of his efforts against America and Israel. After Yousef is sentenced to 240 years, O'Neill and Clarke go after "the tall one," Saudi millionaire Usama Bin Ladin, who has just issued a fatwa to his followers, a declaration of jihad against America. O'Neill declares that America is "at war." In Afghanistan in May of 1998, ABC's John Miller meets with Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahiri, a lieutenant to Bin Ladin, and Muhammad Atef, an Al-Qaeda military commander. Eventually, John Miller gets video of Bin Ladin declaring a fatwa against America, infuriating Kirk. O'Neill wants ABC News' complete version of the tape. O'Neill interviews John Miller and he discusses having met with Bin Ladin. John Miller claims Afghanistan is coming after America. O'Neill claims the dagger Bin Ladin wears on his belt is a signal to his operatives. John Miller also discusses Ahmed Shah Massoud, the Northern Alliance commander, who is at war with Bin Ladin. Eventually, Kirk meets with Massoud. Shortly thereafter, O'Neill is given permission to legally go after Bin Ladin. Massoud leads Kirk to Al-Qaeda's compound, where he believes Bin Ladin is staying. Later, CIA Director George Tenet, CIA Senior Analyst Patricia Carver, Clarke, and O'Neill get briefed by Kirk on Bin Ladin's compound and what it will take to extract him. Kirk is shocked that the mission is not immediately given the go-ahead. Meanwhile, Clinton is embroiled in a scandal with Monica Lewinsky, raising questions if he is being distracted from the hunt for Bin Laden. Eventually, Kirk and Massoud are allowed to go after Bin Laden. However, at the last second the mission is called off. Massoud thinks Washington has acted cowardly. Then, at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, at 10:38 a.m. on August 7, 1998, Kirk returns from Afghanistan amid rumors that a plot is under way to blow up the Nairobi embassy. Just then, Mohamed Rashed Daoud Al-Owhali, one of Bin Laden's followers, orchestrates the detonation of an explosive-laden vehicle that rocks the embassy, killing 247 and wounding nearly 5,000. The U.S. embassy in Tanzania is simultaneously attacked by a truck bomb. Upon hearing the news, Carver is furious that Bin Ladin wasn't apprehended when the opportunity presented itself, thus preventing the latest attacks. Commercials deleted. Continues on T:89725.

Details

• NETWORK: ABC
• DATE: September 10, 2006 Sunday 8:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 2:44:34
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: T:89723
• GENRE: Docudrama
• SUBJECT HEADING: Docudrama
• SERIES RUN: ABC - TV, 2006
• COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

• Marc Platt … Executive Producer
• Thomas H. Kean … Co-Executive Producer
• Mark Winemaker … Producer
• Penelope L. Foster … Producer
• Hans Proppe … Producer
• Cyrus Nowrasteh … Producer, Writer
• Bruce Dunn … Co-Producer
• Richard Luke Rothschild … Line Producer
• Zakaria Alaoui … Line Producer
• David L. Cunningham … Director
• John Miller … Based in part on the book "The Cell" by
• Michael Stone … Based in part on the book "The Cell" by
• Peter Lance … Based in part on the book "1000 Years for Revenge: International Terrorism and the FBI, the Untold Story" by
• Katz, Samuel M … Based in part on the book "Relentless Pursuit" by
• John Cameron … Music by
• Harvey Keitel … Cast, John O'Neill
• Michael Benyaer … Cast, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed
• Wendy Crewson … Cast, Valerie James
• Shirley Douglas … Cast, Madeline Albright
• Kevin Dunn … Cast, Samuel "Sandy" Berger
• Nabil Elouahabi … Cast, Ramzi Yousef
• Mido Hamada … Cast, Ahmed Shah Massoud
• Barclay Hope … Cast, John Miller
• Frank John Hughes … Cast, Bill Miller
• Dan Lauria … Cast, George Tenet
• Amy Madigan … Cast, Patricia Carver
• Art Malik … Cast, Colonel Raymond Malik
• Michael Murphy … Cast, William Cohen
• Root Stephen … Cast, Richard Clarke
• William Sadler … Cast, Neil Herman
• Katy Selverstone … Cast, Nancy Floyd
• Pip Torrens … Cast, Paul Kessler
• Shaun Toub … Cast, Emad Salem
• Donnie Wahlberg … Cast, Kirk
• David Zayas … Cast, Lou Napoli
• Martin Brody … Cast, Muhammad Atta
• Prasanna Puwanarajah … Cast, Ishtiak
• Ennis Esmer … Cast, Mohammed Salameh
• Frank Pellegrino … Cast, Himself
• Al Sapienza … Cast, Donald Sadowy
• Trevor White … Cast, Scott Ramer
• Armando Riesco … Cast, William Atkinson
• Youssef Kerkour … Cast, Mahmoud Abouhalima
• Emilio Doorgasingh … Cast, Atel
• Nayef Rashed … Cast, Ayman Al-Zawahiri
• Jason Jazrawy … Cast, Abdelghani Meskini
• Salvatore Antonio … Cast, Ahmed Ressam
• Catherine Disher … Cast, Diana Dean
• Gabe Fazio … Cast, J.P. O"Neill
• Craig Eldridge … Cast, John Anthony
• Zee Sulleyman … Cast, Zacarias Moussaoui
• Angela Asher … Cast, Lorraine
• Nicky Guadagni … Cast, Mary Jo White
• Richard Fitzpatrick … Cast, Judge Duffy
• Gord Rand … Cast, Andrew
• Marie V. Cruz … Cast, Aida Fariscal
• Amar Hussain … Cast, Murad
• Akin Gazi … Cast, Mohamed Rashed Daoud Al-Owhali
• John Hopkins … Cast, English Reporter
• Winton Nicholson … Cast, Alex
• Mike Realba … Cast, Reeve
• Daniel Caltagirone … Cast, Mark
• Alex Karzis … Cast, Murray
• Noam Jenkins … Cast, Marwan al-Shehhi
• Justin Darmanin … Cast, Azzam
• Navid Negahban … Cast, Khalili
• Daniel Chapman Smith … Cast, Salem al-Hazmi
• Daniel Kash … Cast, Dave Williams
• Jeff Kassel … Cast, Joe Hanlin
• George Ghali … Cast, Omar Abdel-Rahman
• Laila Fadili … Cast, Ishtiak's Wife
• Demetri Goritsas … Cast, U.S. Driver Islamabad
• Daniela Saioni … Cast, O'Neill's Secretary
• Nicholas Aaron … Cast, Burnett
• Abdullah Chikh … Cast, The Tall One
• Riz Ahmed … Cast, Yosri
• Bruce Beaton … Cast, FBI Techie #1
• Rebecca Northan … Cast, AA Supervisor
• Ariene Mazerolle … Cast, AA Agent
• Alison Smiley … Cast, AA Ticket Agent Boston
• Judy Coffey … Cast, United Ticket Agent
• Jennifer Ricci … Cast, Amy Sweeney
• Diana Reis … Cast, Mary McCarthy
• Michelle Moffatt … Cast, Lynn
• Andrew Stelmack … Cast, Van Driver W.T.C.
• Alex Castillo … Cast, Monica Smith
• Allan Price … Cast, Meir Kahane
• Dan Ramos … Cast, Filipino Karaoke Singer
• Roe Montez … Cast, Security Guard Manila
• David Boyce … Cast, Old Guard
• De Mayo, Richard … Cast, Marine Guard
• Jamal Selmaoui … Cast, Pakistani Guard
• Benazir Bhutto
• bin Laden, Usama
• George W. Bush
• Bill Clinton
• Monica Lewinsky