The journalist Peter Bergen also talks to us about meeting Osama Bin Laden before 9/11, and what happened during that interview.
In this episode, Justin, Sumi and Marianna discuss America twenty five years on from 9/11 and to what extent it still shapes the United States, despite millions of Americans today having no lived experience of the attacks.
We also look at the politics, as families who lost loved ones in the attacks have petitioned New York mayor Zohran Mamdani not to attend the 25th anniversary ceremony. More than 100,000 people have signed the petition, objecting to specific members of the mayor’s team. Is this the biggest test yet of Mamdani’s standing in New York City?
Peter Bergen, a national security analyst for CNN who produced the first television interview with Osama Bin Laden in 1997 joins us to give his reflections, and details how the interview came about. His latest book, All the Presidents' Wars, charts the quarter century of conflict that followed the attacks. He is also donating an archive of 150,000 documents on the rise of al-Qaeda to Georgetown University.
He reflects on the legacy of 9/11 and argues that America, not Bin Laden, created the quagmire that came after. And he explains why the alleged mastermind of the attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, is still awaiting trial at Guantanamo Bay, more than 20 years after his arrest.
HOSTS:
• Marianna Spring, Social Media Investigations Senior Correspondent
• Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter
• Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter
GUEST:
• Peter Bergen, CNN National Security Analyst
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This episode was made by George Dabby with Alix Pickles and Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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