On the 15th anniversary of Sept. 11, the National Geographic Channel will commemorate the tragic events of that fateful day, and the ongoing war that followed, with a daylong television tribute culled from 10 consecutive years of critically acclaimed 9/11 programming and the world premiere of a new compilation special, 9/11: The Longest War.
The programming event begins Sunday, Sept. 11, at 12/11c with encores of Giuliani’s 9/11, CIA Confidential: Hunt for Bin Laden, CIA Confidential: 9/11 Mastermind, Witness: D.C. 9/11, 9/11: The Firemen’s Story, the Emmy-nominated miniseries Inside 9/11 and a special encore presentation of George W. Bush: The 9/11 Interview, followed by the world premiere of a powerful new compilation special, 9/11: The Longest War, airing at 9/8c.
The new two-hour special provides a comprehensive look at the past 15 years — from the buildup to the attacks as the devastating events unfolded, to the military response in the years that followed — leading up to the present day. 9/11: The Longest War draws from a wide range of sources, including over 40 original National Geographic interviews with survivors, first responders, experts, journalists, politicians and military leaders; news footage and eyewitness videos culled from a rarely seen 400-hour archive; and chilling audio recordings from on board the doomed planes and inside air traffic control.
Hear from those who worked inside the World Trade Center, whose snap decisions resulted in narrow misses of the attack. Footage from the Pentagon crash site taken shortly after impact captures a raw view of the devastating aftermath. Confronted by a city on its knees, New York City’s then Mayor Rudy Giuliani opens up about his own emotions in the midst of crisis, even as word reached him of the deaths of personal friends and the very colleagues he would have turned to for counsel. While some of the nation’s top military leaders also weigh in, both Gen. David Petraeus and Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal reflect on the events that forever changed America.
Drawing from National Geographic Channel’s extensive and critically acclaimed library of series and specials, 9/11: The Longest War offers a 360-degree perspective of the deadliest attack on American soil and the ongoing war on terror that followed.
Full Schedule of Sept. 11, 15th Anniversary Commemorative Programming Includes:
Giuliani’s 9/11
Airing Sunday, Sept. 11, at 12/11c
Unique insights and personal reflections from Rudy Giuliani, the world-famous mayor, recall the day America suffered the worst terrorist attack in its history. In Giuliani’s 9/11, archive footage and high-end graphics support compelling interview material in presenting a behind-the-scenes look at the shocking events that would permanently leave their mark on New York.
CIA Confidential: Hunt for Bin Laden
Airing Sunday, Sept. 11, at 1/12c
Just days after the horrific attacks of 9/11, a team of seven CIA agents snuck into northern Afghanistan and began to lay the groundwork for war. The goal of the operation, dubbed “Jawbreaker,” was to take out al-Qaida, break the Taliban, and find and kill Osama bin Laden. NGC tells the story of this dangerous covert mission from the point of view of the CIA officers and top-secret Delta Force operators involved.
CIA Confidential: 9/11 Mastermind
Airing Sunday, Sept. 11, at 2/1c
The bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993 sets off one of the biggest manhunts the world has ever known. The CIA and its intelligence partners around the world follow a chain of evidence from the Philippines to rural Pakistan to capture the man behind the plot: Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. But before they can find him, he engineers the biggest terrorist strike on America in history: the attacks of 9/11.
Witness: D.C. 9/11
Airing Sunday, Sept. 11, at 3/2c
Using raw video and audio, Witness: D.C. 9/11 reconstructs the events of Sept. 11, 2001, in and around Washington, D.C., as first the nation, and then the nation’s capital, came under assault. From the Pentagon to the White House, from Air Force One to air traffic control, this one-hour documentary captures the mix of confusion, fear, panic and chaos that shook the city and, in turn, profoundly affected America’s response to the day’s events.
9/11: The Firemen’s Story
Airing Sunday, Sept. 11, at 4/3c
Follow the story of several of the firefighters whose courage and sacrifice made them national heroes. This is the inside story of the firemen of 9/11 and how the New York Fire Department survived the worst day in its history.
Inside 9/11: The War Continues
Airing Sunday, Sept. 11, at 5/4c
NGC tells the evolving story of radical Islam’s war against the West. Osama bin Laden has finally been brought to justice, but al-Qaida is still going strong. For bin Laden, 9/11 was just the beginning. The attack was designed to spark a revolution and create a whole new generation of men willing to wage jihad against America. But 10 years later, these same men have eclipsed bin Laden on the global stage. And their call to jihad has gone viral, with terror groups using the Internet to recruit and radicalize future attackers in the name of Allah.
Inside 9/11: War on America
Airing Sunday, Sept. 11, at 6/5c
War on America takes viewers into the secret world of al-Qaida and traces the rise of Islamic fundamentalism, beginning with the 1979 Soviet-Afghan War and the transformation of Osama bin Laden from fundraiser to terrorist mastermind. Delve into the inner workings of al-Qaida as its members plot and execute the 1998 embassy bombings and the bombing of the USS Cole. Inside 9/11 follows the timeline that spanned decades, circled the globe and ultimately led to the horrific morning of Sept. 11, 2001.
George W. Bush: The 9/11 Interview
Airing Sunday, Sept. 11, at 8/7c
In his most in-depth and intimate interview on the topic to date, the former president tells his first-person story, starting with his morning jog before the school visit where he first learned the nation was under attack. He opens up with candid details and personal experiences on the grueling hours and pressure-packed days that followed the attacks.
9/11: The Longest War
Airing Sunday, Sept. 11, at 9/8c
Drawing from NGC’s extensive and critically acclaimed library of series and specials, 9/11: The Longest War reflects on the years leading up to and following the attacks.
9/11: The Longest War is produced by National Geographic Channel. Executive producer is Erik Nelson, producers are Robert Zakin and Erin Reuss, and president of original programming and production is Tim Pastore.
