American Terrorist

The three-day terrorist siege of Mumbai has been called "India's 9/11." In November 2008, a group of 10 terrorists hijacked a fishing boat and later fanned out across the city, attacking sites including a train station, a luxury hotel, and a Jewish synagogue—all with the goal of inflicting terror and mass casualties. Incredibly, one important figure in this attack was an American. Directed by Thomas Jennings, this PBS-aired Frontline documentary investigates the life of David Headley (born Daood Gilani), son of a Pakistani father and American mother. Headley is a sadly familiar figure who fell into drug smuggling and heroin use, but avoided punishment by sharing information with American government officials who needed intelligence on Islamic extremists. Headley was self-interested, adept at playing both sides, and (unbeknown to the Americans) became interested in Islam during a stint in prison. Gradually, he embraced radical Islam, working for an anti-Indian terrorist group called Lashkar-e-Taiba, who planned big, meticulously plotted terrorist attacks on Mumbai. Headley was responsible for casing the sites, even staying at the luxury hotel he later helped attack and almost destroy. The takeaway story here is that the National Security Agency repeatedly missed clues about Headley's intentions, despite their massive intelligence gathering (which was later revealed by Edward Snowden). Nearly 170 people would die in the Mumbai assault. Alternating between America and Europe, Headley next focused on Copenhagen, intending to kill cartoonists who defamed the Prophet, but his luck ran out as he was boarding an airplane, and Headley quickly reverted to type, revealing sources and information in return for a 35-year prison term (essentially a life sentence). American Terrorist plays like an engrossing spy tale, illuminating government failures, while also dissecting how terrorists prey on human weakness and divided loyalties. Recommended. Aud: C, P. (S. Rees)