American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden

Follows an in-depth look at how the world mobilized to hunt down Osama Bin Laden after his orchestrations of the September 11th, 2001 attacks on the United States.

The documentary itself is pretty good. Too bad that most of the people involved are spekking in an arrogant, annoying way. And the typical 'look how great America is!' seems quite unappropriate. Forgot about all the big failures, before and after 9/11? Failures that costed the lives of thousands of people worldwide.

I only liked the footage and preparations of the actual raid in 2011. Everything else was political and USA propaganda.

As another reviewer noted, there is a pretty obvious theme through the CIA analysts they interviewed for this program, and it's obvious that it isn't terribly reflective of the entire body of CIA analysts.

Were these the only ones that would consent to an interview? Or are these the only ones that have retired and are willing to spill the tea? Did the good ones not have any interest in participating or were these ladies hand-selected to drive some message?

Generally a decent documentary, doesn't offer much that hasn't already been done in previous projects. I would like to have seen a couple of analysts that were a part of running the ops rather than a just a couple from the periphery that are ashamed of the CIA.

And seriously - a drone controller who is talking about how being a VP in her sorority qualified her for the job? Puhh-lease. Who decided any commentary on her background or sorority membership has any relevance to this at all?

First few insights from my reading on the subject. The aftermath of the Soviet retreat from Afghanistan was a pivotal moment in history. And as a result of failure to fully grasp the power of religion in the region by the western world, the period that followed was rather a prelude to more significant events.

In late 1980s, various terrorist groups emerged, including Hamas, Hezbollah and the Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in Palestine and Lebanon. Osama bin Laden, a prominent figure, opposed Western cultural influence and dominance. When US troops were sent to Saudi Arabia after Iraq's invasion of Kuwait, Bin Laden claimed that the US aimed to seize Muslim holy lands and exploit the region's oil and wealth. His activities took him to Sudan where the government offered to hand him over to the US, but the US declined!!!! He later returned to Afghanistan where he formed alliances with groups like the Taliban. The Taliban took control of Afghanistan, implementing Sharia law and bringing an end to the civil war albeit with a strict and austere form of peace.

On the 8th anniversary of US troops deploying in Saudi Arabia, bin Laden orchestrated simultaneous attacks on US embassies in East Africa.

And then in 2001, the US invaded Afghanistan, and the Taliban regime was toppled. However, bin Laden escaped to Tora Bora, where US forces failed to capture or kill him despite having intelligence suggesting he was hiding there.

Years later on May 2, 2011, during the Obama presidency, US Navy SEALs carried out Operation Neptune Spear, resulting in bin Laden's death. The US Navy's SEAL Team Six along with a support team, infiltrated Abbottabad, Pakistan, where bin Laden was hiding. The operation was carried out with precision and bravery, as the team navigated the compound and neutralized any threats. It was a masterclass in teamwork and execution that included the skill and control displayed by the pilot, who executed a controlled crash landing in the compound, allowing the SEALs to deploy quickly and safely. The success of the operation was a result of meticulous planning, precise execution and the unwavering commitment of the team.

This documentary provides a gripping and detailed account of the complex history surrounding Osama bin Laden and the US military's efforts to capture or kill him. It sheds light on key events. It is a heart-pumping, real-life thriller that drops one right into the CIA's most intense decade-long pursuit. With a perfect blend of gritty reenactments, archival footages, gripping interviews and less known intel, this series gives an unfiltered look at the cat-and-mouse game that defined the times that most of us have lived in.

I found it more ardeljne pumped than a Hollywood action movie. The tension, the frustration and the ultimate triumph esp in the concluding episode will keep you on edge of the seat.. Well-paced, engaging, thought-provoking exploration of one of the most significant manhunts in modern history.

As a documentary filmmaker myself that loves soaking up the genre, I was totally absorbed by American Manhunt: The Search for Osama bin Laden. It's a masterclass in storytelling - seamlessly blending an engaging, complex narrative and world class production techniques that feels both cinematic and deeply informative.

The level of detail and cohesion across such an immense body of material is extraordinary. From the tragedy of 9/11 to the final raid, the series unpacks the manhunt with precision, clarity, and tension. The edit is tight, the cast of interviewees is extensive and well-chosen, and the tone is pitch-perfect throughout.

This is high-calibre documentary work - a triumph of structure, research and emotional weight. Huge respect to everyone involved. If you appreciate exceptional documentary craft, this one deserves a spot high on your list.

It's funny to see people calling out the 'Bias' in the making of this docu-series. First of all, I really want to clarify that 9/11 happened in their soil. Although there were (and are) subsequent attacks later, this is their version of the truth. Their sentiments, their emotions, and their story of victory.

History is written by the victors. Let's keep that in mind. This series did justice to the events completely and anyone with a far cry of their own version of the truth that they got bits and pieces of, sitting wherever they are, snuggled up, watching/reading everything on 9/11 from various sources, are still far-removed from the ones who witnessed and were in front of the line fighting / making decisions whether on ground or from behind a desk.

I thoroughly enjoyed this POV from National Security, CIA and govt. Officials as these are the ones who don't usually comment but are always commented on! I think Netflix did a really good job capturing their emotions and statements well (Except that sorority lady who annoyed tf out of me with her self-praise).

That being said, a tragedy can have infinite POVs and someone who is truly unbiased would love exploring it all, from different angles, and Netflix brought us one such valuable angle. The ones that have rated this less are the biased ones and that's the irony.