So, yeah, we know. It’s a little nerdy to live tweet a PBS documentary. But here at your favorite homeland security blog, Elevated Risk, we’re thrilled to see the final product of PBS Frontline’s “Are We Safer?” Months of work conducted by journalists at the Washington Post started with a desire to examine the explosion of privatized domestic intelligence work and homeland security spending after Sept. 11.
The reporting team includes Dana Priest, a Pulitzer winner and force behind exposure of the CIA’s extraordinary rendition program. She also authored a book in 2003 called “The Mission” on the use of special forces, which became a Pulitzer finalist. It’s a must-read for students of this subject.
(Her colleague at the Post, Robert O’Harrow, also an advisor to the Center for Investigative Reporting, published another essential book on privacy and surveillance with help from the center in 2005 called “No Place to Hide.”)
Multiple stories have already appeared as part of her more recent Post series entitled “Top Secret America.” Tonight’s Frontline episode is a televised package of their work so far. We’ll be live tweeting additional insights, documents and links using the handle @GWSchulzCIR. We’ve been exploring many of the same issues at CIR.
Frontline will also separately be airing another story, “Flying Cheaper,” on major airlines outsourcing maintenance work to foreign countries. The House Homeland Security Committee held a related hearing in late 2009. It may provide useful background. See you tonight!
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