Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Narrator: THEY ARE THE FRONT LINE OF UNITED STATES DIPLOMACY.
Miller: WE ARE THE RESPONSE.
WE ARE THE THREAT MITIGATOR, AND WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE 100% ON.
Narrator: THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT'S ELITE PROTECTIVE FORCE
CALLED DIPLOMATIC SECURITY.
Jones: OUR AGENTS GOING IN KNOW
THAT THEY COULD PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE.
Narrator: SPECIAL AGENTS OPERATE IN THE MOST DANGEROUS PLACES ON EARTH,
BUT THEY AREN'T IN THE MILITARY.
THESE UNIQUE PROFESSIONALS ARE HALF WARRIOR, HALF DIPLOMAT.
THEY'RE HIGHLY SKILLED. THEY'RE HIGHLY TRAINED.
Narrator: THEY ARE IN CHARGE OF PROTECTING ALL U.S. EMBASSIES WORLDWIDE.
THEY ARE POTENTIAL TARGETS EVERYWHERE.
Narrator: KEEPING AMERICA'S TOP DIPLOMAT OUT OF THE CROSS HAIRS.
IT'S A DIFFERENT WORLD WITH THREATS
AND THE WAY THEY CAN COME AT YOU.
Narrator: AND HUNTING DOWN TERRORISTS WHEREVER THEY HIDE.
Miller: HE BASICALLY HAD BEEN TOLD,
"YOU'RE EITHER WITH ME, OR YOU'RE A DEAD MAN."
Narrator: WITH UNPRECEDENTED ACCESS,
WE TAKE YOU DEEP INSIDE THIS FEDERAL AGENCY
THAT PRIDES ITSELF ON STAYING OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT.
THERE WAS DESTRUCTION EVERYWHERE.
THE EMBASSY COMPLETELY SHATTERED,
MOST OF THE FRONT OF IT BLOWN OFF.
Narrator: WITNESS TALIBAN ATTACKS
AND FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE ASSAULTS IN LIBYA
THAT TOOK THE LIVES OF FOUR AMERICANS,
INCLUDING AMBASSADOR J. CHRISTOPHER STEVENS.
AND, MAKE NO MISTAKE, JUSTICE WILL BE DONE.
-- Captions by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS
[ GUNFIRE ]
Narrator: SEPTEMBER 13, 2011.
TALIBAN FIGHTERS LAUNCH A SURPRISE ATTACK
ON THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY AND NATO HEADQUARTERS
IN KABUL, AFGHANISTAN.
THE ASSAULT IS A NONSTOP BARRAGE OF GUNFIRE, MORTAR ROUNDS...
ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADES AND SUICIDE BOMBERS.
Cunningham: IT WAS NERVE-RACKING.
THERE WAS FIRING GOING BACK AND FORTH.
Narrator: AMBASSADOR JAMES CUNNINGHAM LIVES INSIDE THE EMBASSY
AND IS THERE WHEN THE ATTACK BEGINS.
HIS SECURITY STAFF IMMEDIATELY ACTIVATES ITS EMERGENCY PLANS.
OUR SECURITY PEOPLE, THEY KNEW WHAT TO DO,
RECOVERING PEOPLE AND BRINGING THEM WHERE IT WAS SAFER.
Narrator: THE MEN AND WOMEN SEEN HERE ARE IN CHARGE
OF PROTECTING THE AMBASSADOR AND THIS WAR ZONE EMBASSY
FROM CONTINUED ASSAULT.
THEY MAY LOOK LIKE MILITARY SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES,
BUT THEY'RE NOT.
THEY ARE THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S
HIGHLY SKILLED PROTECTIVE SERVICE
CALLED DIPLOMATIC SECURITY, KNOWN AS D.S.
Boswell: OUR PRINCIPLE JOB IS PROTECTING PEOPLE,
INFORMATION, AND FACILITIES OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT OVERSEAS,
INCLUDING IN SOME VERY DANGEROUS LOCATIONS.
Bultrowicz: DIPLOMATIC SECURITY IS UNLIKE ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT --
U.S. LAW ENFORCEMENT SECURITY ORGANIZATION IN THE COUNTRY.
Narrator: DIPLOMATIC SECURITY IS IN CHARGE
OF PROTECTING ALL U.S. AMBASSADORS AND EMBASSIES.
DURING THE ATTACK ON THE AFGHANISTAN EMBASSY,
AMBASSADOR CUNNINGHAM IS RUSHED TO A HARDENED BUNKER
WHILE HUNDREDS OF EMBASSY PERSONNEL RUN FOR COVER
INSIDE REINFORCED SAFE HAVENS SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE COMPLEX.
Ketchem: MOST OF OUR STRUCTURES ARE ABLE TO PROTECT YOU
REALLY, REALLY QUICKLY
FROM ANYTHING FROM SMALL ARMS FIRE TO LARGER MUNITIONS.
Narrator: NATO SECURITY FORCES SCRAMBLE TO ROOFTOPS
AND RETURN FIRE IN A BATTLE FOR THEIR LIVES.
THE INSURGENTS HAVE TAKEN OVER
A NEARBY HIGH-RISE APARTMENT BUILDING
UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
HEY, YOU GOT MUZZLE FLASH
FROM THAT GROUND CONSTRUCTION BUILDING!
WE HAD A LARGE NUMBER OF OUR STAFF
WHO WERE CAUGHT ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COMPOUND
AND WERE RELATIVELY EXPOSED.
Narrator: AFGHANISTAN SECURITY FORCES ARRIVE,
AND A GRUELING 20-HOUR BATTLE ERUPTS.
THE SIEGE ISN'T OVER
UNTIL THE UNFINISHED APARTMENT BUILDING
IS METHODICALLY CLEARED, FLOOR BY BLOODY FLOOR.
OUTSIDE THE U.S. EMBASSY, SEVEN PEOPLE,
INCLUDING SOME OF THE ATTACKERS, ARE KILLED.
BUT INSIDE THE EMBASSY,
A SPRAWLING CAMPUS FOR AMERICAN DIPLOMACY
THAT'S BUILT ACCORDING TO D.S. SPECIFICATIONS
WITH THE LATEST PHYSICAL AND TECHNICAL SECURITY MEASURES,
EVERYONE SURVIVES
THANKS TO THE MEN AND WOMEN OF DIPLOMATIC SECURITY.
IT WAS A TEST THAT WAS PASSED,
AND WE LEARNED A LOT OF VALUABLE LESSONS FROM IT
AND IMPROVED OUR SECURITY POSTURE EVEN FURTHER,
AS WAS DEMONSTRATED THE NEXT TIME WE WERE ATTACKED.
Narrator: ON APRIL 14, 2012,
TALIBAN FIGHTERS STRIKE THE U.S. EMBASSY AGAIN.
NEARLY 20 INSURGENTS ARE KILLED
DURING THE FIERCE 17-HOUR BATTLE.
ONCE AGAIN, NO ONE INSIDE
THE HIGHLY PROTECTED U.S. EMBASSY IS KILLED.
THE EMBASSY CONTINUES TO BE A TARGET TO OUR ADVERSARIES.
IT PROVIDES A SYMBOL FOR ATTACK.
Narrator: THE EMBASSY IN KABUL IS JUST ONE OF MORE THAN 250 U.S. FACILITIES
THAT THE BUREAU OF DIPLOMATIC SECURITY KNOWN AS D.S.
PROTECTS AROUND THE WORLD,
MAKING IT AN UNMATCHED GLOBAL PRESENCE
IN U.S. FEDERAL SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.
Boswell: OUR AGENTS SPEND AT LEAST HALF OF THEIR CAREERS OVERSEAS.
THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT MAKES DIPLOMATIC SECURITY UNIQUE.
Narrator: BUT THE MASSIVE JOB OF SECURING
ALL U.S. EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES
IS ONLY ONE OF THE BUREAU'S
MANY DANGEROUS AND DIFFICULT RESPONSIBILITIES.
THERE'S SO MANY DIFFERENT OFFICES WITHIN D.S.,
AS IT'S KNOWN.
YOU COULD BE DOING CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS ONE DAY.
YOU COULD BE OUT AT AN EMBASSY PROTECTING THEM ANOTHER DAY.
YOU COULD BE OUT WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE
PROVIDING PROTECTION FOR HER.
Narrator: DIPLOMATIC SECURITY'S MOST PUBLIC JOB
IS PROTECTING THE SECRETARY OF STATE
WHEREVER HE OR SHE GOES,
JUST AS THE SECRET SERVICE PROTECTS THE PRESIDENT.
THE U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE IS OUR BOSS,
AND WE TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY.
Narrator: D.S. SPECIAL AGENTS ALSO PROTECT
AMBASSADORS AND DIGNITARIES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
WHEN THEY VISIT THE UNITED STATES,
AND D.S. IS QUIETLY ON THE FRONT LINES
OF SECURING AMERICA'S BORDERS.
SPECIAL AGENTS INVESTIGATE PASSPORT AND VISA FRAUD,
KEEPING CRIMINALS AND TERRORISTS FROM ENTERING THE UNITED STATES.
IF THERE'S EVER ANOTHER 9/11 ATTACK IN THE UNITED STATES,
OR, GOD FORBID THAT THERE EVER BE ONE,
THERE IS LIKELY TO BE
SOME PASSPORT- OR VISA-FRAUD ANGLE TO IT.
THE PROTECTION OF OUR BORDERS
IS EXCEEDINGLY IMPORTANT TO OUR NATION,
AND WE PLAY AN IMPORTANT PART IN THAT.
Narrator: PERHAPS LEAST KNOWN ABOUT D.S.,
SPECIAL AGENTS HELP TRACK DOWN TERRORISTS ALL OVER THE GLOBE,
INCLUDING RAMZI YOUSEF, THE RINGLEADER
OF THE FIRST WORLD TRADE CENTER BOMBING.
AND KHALID SHEIKH MOHAMMED,
WHO CONFESSED TO BEING ONE OF OSAMA BIN LADEN'S CLOSEST AIDS,
AND TO BEING THE PRINCIPLE ARCHITECT
OF THE TERRORIST ATTACKS AGAINST THE UNITED STATES
ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001.
WE PARTICIPATE IN THE COUNTERTERRORISM WORLD,
AND IT HAS LED, IN FACT, TO PUTTING OUT OF BUSINESS
A NUMBER OF VERY HIGH-OCTANE TERRORISTS.
Narrator: DIPLOMATIC SECURITY HAS 2,000 SPECIAL AGENTS
WITH HIGHLY REFINED SKILLS.
[ GUNSHOTS ]
MANY RECEIVED WEAPONS AND TACTICAL TRAINING
SIMILAR TO THAT OF U.S. SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES.
THEY UNDERGO CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION INSTRUCTION
AND LEARN FOREIGN LANGUAGES --
A KEY PART OF THEIR DIPLOMATIC MISSION.
THEY ARE TAUGHT COUNTERINTELLIGENCE TECHNIQUES.
THEN, D.S. SPECIAL AGENTS ARE SENT
TO THE MOST HOSTILE CORNERS OF THE GLOBE.
Bultrowicz: IT IS A DANGEROUS WORLD,
AND WE WORK DILIGENTLY EVERY DAY TO PROTECT OUR PEOPLE,
TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE PROVIDED A SAFE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT
TO CONDUCT DIPLOMACY.
D.S. SPECIAL AGENTS STRIVE TO BE THE QUIET PROFESSIONALS,
MAINTAINING A LOW PROFILE
SO THE DIPLOMATS THEY PROTECT CAN MEET FREELY WITH OTHERS.
Miller: WE ARE THE ONES WHO INTERACT.
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE DO IS PALATABLE,
AND WE'RE DOING THE RIGHT THING.
WE'RE NOT ANGERING ANYONE.
Narrator: THE STATE DEPARTMENT HAS HAD SECURITY AGENTS SINCE 1916,
BUT THE BUREAU OF DIPLOMATIC SECURITY
IS OFFICIALLY FORMED IN 1985 FOLLOWING INVESTIGATIONS
INTO TWO SUICIDE BOMBINGS IN BEIRUT --
ONE ON THE U.S. EMBASSY AND ONE ON THE U.S. MARINES.
THE TWO ATTACKS KILL MORE THAN 300 PEOPLE.
I REMEMBER WALKING THROUGH THE EMBASSY.
COMPLETELY SHATTERED, MOST OF THE FRONT IF IT BLOWN OFF.
THERE WAS DESTRUCTION EVERYWHERE.
IT'S A MEMORY THAT WILL STAY WITH ME A VERY LONG TIME.
Narrator: IN 1998, SUICIDE BOMBERS STRIKE THE U.S. EMBASSIES
IN DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA AND NAIROBI, KENYA.
PLACES THOUGHT NOT TO BE AT HIGH RISK OF BEING ATTACKED.
MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE LOSE THEIR LIVES.
IT'S A WAKE-UP CALL THAT EMBASSIES EVERYWHERE,
EVEN IN COUNTRIES NOT NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH TERRORISM,
ARE STILL TARGETS.
LOW THREATS CEASE TO EXIST.
EVERYTHING IS THREATENED IN SOME FORM OR FASHION.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT BEGINS A MASSIVE PROGRAM
TO UPGRADE EMBASSY SECURITY.
EMBASSY IMPROVEMENTS ARE ACCELERATED
BY THE ATTACKS ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2001.
Boswell: THE KIND OF BUILDINGS THAT WE BUILD AS U.S. EMBASSIES,
MUCH MORE SECURE THAN WHAT WAS THERE BEFORE.
Narrator: TODAY, THE KABUL EMBASSY IN AFGHANISTAN
IS ONE OF THE MOST ADVANCED, SECURE FACILITIES
THAT DIPLOMATIC SECURITY HAS BUILT AND PROTECTS.
INSIDE EMBASSY GROUNDS,
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE LIVE IN APARTMENTS
AND WORK IN AN OFFICE BUILDING CALLED THE CHANCERY.
THE BUILDINGS ARE DESIGNED TO APPEAR WELCOMING
AND LESS FORTRESS-LIKE,
BUT THESE STRUCTURES ARE ANYTHING BUT NORMAL.
THEY ARE SPECIALLY DESIGNED WITH SHATTERPROOF GLASS
AND BOMB-RESISTANT CONSTRUCTION METHODS
THAT ABSORB AND DEFLECT EXPLOSIONS.
DIPLOMATIC SECURITY TESTS THE MATERIALS
AT A BLAST FACILITY IN NEW MEXICO.
Norris: THE ANALOGY IS OF A CATCHER'S MITT.
THE CATCHER'S MITT CATCHES THE BALL, AND YOUR HAND MOVES BACK.
WELL, MOST BLAST DESIGNS, IN SOME MANNER OR SHAPE,
WILL DO THAT.
Narrator: EVEN THOUGH THE BUILDINGS ARE BLAST-RESISTANT,
THE EMBASSY IS LAID OUT
WITH CONCENTRIC RINGS OF SECURITY
DESIGNED TO KEEP ANY AND ALL BOMBS AND ATTACKERS
FROM INFILTRATING THE COMPOUND.
WE ARE AN ISOLATED FACILITY
IN THE MIDDLE OF A HOST COUNTRY NATION.
WE REALLY HAVE TO MAINTAIN
A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF DEFENSIVE POSTURE.
CAMERAS ARE NEVER ALLOWED WHEN ENTERING THE U.S. EMBASSY,
BUT WE ARE GIVEN UNPRECEDENTED ACCESS
AND CAPTURE SECURITY FEATURES NEVER RECORDED BEFORE.
COMING UP...
WE DO HAVE THE LATEST AND BEST AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY
INSIDE OF OUR PERIMETER WALLS.
Narrator: A RARE, BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK
AT HOW THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY IN KABUL IS PROTECTED.
Ketchem: THE OUTER RINGS OF OUR SECURITY
ARE DESIGNED TO HELP MITIGATE THOSE EXTRA TYPE OF THREATS.
AND THE SPECIALIZED HIGH-THREAT TRAINING AND EQUIPMENT
THAT AGENTS USE IN THE LINE OF FIRE.
Jones: WE REALLY MAKE A CONCERTED EFFORT
TO GET THE BEST POSSIBLE GEAR AND EQUIPMENT FOR OUR PEOPLE.
Narrator: THEN LATER, THE BATTLE
TO SAVE AMBASSADOR J. CHRISTOPHER STEVENS
DURING AN AMBUSH IN BENGHAZI, LIBYA.
MAKE NO MISTAKE, JUSTICE WILL BE DONE.
Narrator: UNITED STATES DIPLOMACY IS MORE DANGEROUS THAN EVER.
Reporter: IN TUNISIA, DEMONSTRATORS SET FIRES BY THE U.S. EMBASSY GATE.
Reporter #2: THE U.S. MARINE RAPID RESPONSE TEAM
TOOK UP POSITIONS AT YEMEN'S CHARRED U.S. EMBASSY.
IN CAIRO TODAY, MUSLIM PROTESTORS
STORMED THE U.S. EMBASSY.
Narrator: PROTECTING U.S. EMBASSIES WORLDWIDE
AND THE AMBASSADORS AND DIPLOMATS WHO WORK THERE
IS THE RESPONSIBILITY
OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S BUREAU OF DIPLOMATIC SECURITY.
WE ARE OPERATING IN AREAS
WHERE NO U.S. EMBASSY WOULD EVER HAVE OPERATED 20 YEARS AGO.
WE HAVE BIG EMBASSIES IN COMBAT ZONES, AND, OF COURSE,
IT'S DIPLOMATIC SECURITY THAT MAKES IT HAPPEN.
Miller: THE EMBASSY IS THE FACE OF AMERICA.
THE AMERICAN FLAG DOWN TO THE PEOPLE.
A ONE-ON-ONE, INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP THAT YOU ESTABLISH.
IT'S OUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHOW WHAT AMERICA IS.
Narrator: IN AFGHANISTAN, THE U.S. EMBASSY OPERATES
UNDER CONSTANT THREAT OF ATTACK BY THE TALIBAN, AL QAEDA,
AND OTHER TERRORIST GROUPS.
Ketchem: HERE IN AFGHANISTAN, WE ARE ALREADY
AT A VERY HEIGHTENED STATE OF SECURITY.
EVERY SINGLE DAY, I EXPECT THAT WE COULD BE ATTACKED.
Narrator: PROTECTING THE U.S. EMBASSY IN AFGHANISTAN
REQUIRES THE LATEST PHYSICAL AND TECHNICAL SECURITY MEASURES.
COMING TO AFGHANISTAN, YOU KNOW, USING A BASEBALL TERM,
IS LIKE GOING TO THE SHOW.
IT'S THE BIGGEST GAME IN TOWN.
Narrator: SEVERAL RINGS OF SECURITY BARRIERS
AND CHECKPOINTS SURROUND THE COMPOUND.
Ketchem: THE CONCENTRIC CIRCLES ARE PART OF
OUR VERY ROBUST PHYSICAL SECURITY
TO STOP OUTSIDE THREATS.
Narrator: AFGHANISTAN SECURITY FORCES CONTROL THE FIRST CHECKPOINT.
THAT'S BECAUSE THE EMBASSIES OPERATE
UNDER THE 1961 VIENNA CONVENTION OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS,
WHICH STIPULATES THAT THE HOST NATION
HAS A SPECIAL DUTY TO PROTECT THE PREMISES OF THE MISSION.
DRIVERS ENTERING THE EMBASSY
ENCOUNTER A CAREFULLY PLANNED OBSTACLE COURSE
THAT PREVENTS A VEHICLE FROM PICKING UP SPEED.
AT ONE CHECKPOINT,
GUARDS WORKING FOR DIPLOMATIC SECURITY
USE DOGS AND MIRRORS TO LOOK FOR EXPLOSIVES.
ANOTHER CHECKPOINT IS REINFORCED WITH STEEL GATES.
THERE IS ALSO A POP-UP ROADBLOCK
THAT COULD SHEAR A VEHICLE IN HALF.
IT'S ALWAYS A CHESS GAME AGAINST INSURGENTS
AS THEY DO, SAY, BRING A LARGER TRUCK BOMB.
THE OUTER RINGS OF SECURITY ARE DESIGNED
TO HELP MITIGATE THOSE EXTRA TYPE OF THREATS.
SO, WE DO PLAN FOR JUST ABOUT ANY EVENTUALITY
AND HOW TO COUNTER IT HERE.
Narrator: EVERYONE IS INDIVIDUALLY SCREENED
BEFORE BEING ALLOWED INSIDE THE EMBASSY COMPOUND.
THE ENTRANCE INTO THE CHANCERY,
THE MAIN OFFICE BUILDING OF THE EMBASSY,
IS MANNED BY U.S. MARINES.
WITHIN THE INNER SANCTUM OF THE CHANCERY
IS A STATE-OF-THE-ART COMMUNICATIONS CENTER
THAT MONITORS THE EMBASSY 24/7.
ATTACKS LIKE WE'VE HAD ON DECEMBER 13th AND APRIL 15th,
IT BECOMES THE NERVE CENTER.
Narrator: THE EMBASSY IS AN EXTREMELY SECURE FACILITY,
BUT THE AMBASSADOR AND OTHER STATE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES
MUST LEAVE THE COMPOUND DAILY AND DRIVE INTO THE CITY
TO MEET WITH LOCAL OFFICIALS.
DIPLOMATIC SECURITY USES ARMORED VEHICLES
AND PROVIDES PROTECTION FOR ALL TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE EMBASSY.
ONE HAS TO ASSUME THAT I'M A PRINCIPLE TARGET HERE.
WHERE THERE ARE THREATS TO US,
WE NEED TO WORK WITH FRIENDS AND PARTNERS
TO COUNTER THOSE THREATS.
Narrator: THE ELITE D.S. SPECIAL AGENTS
WHO PROTECT AMBASSADORS AND EMBASSIES
IN WAR ZONES AND OTHER DANGEROUS PLACES AROUND THE GLOBE
ARE HIGHLY TRAINED AND READY FOR ACTION.
Jones: OUR AGENTS KNOW THAT THEY COULD PAY THE ULTIMATE PRICE,
AND WE TAKE THAT VERY SERIOUSLY
AS WE PUT OUR TRAINING PACKAGES TOGETHER.
Narrator: AGENTS ARE RIGOROUSLY TAUGHT
SPECIAL TACTICS TO COUNTER CRITICAL THREATS.
IF SOMEONE OR A GROUP IS GETTING READY
TO CAUSE SERIOUS BODILY INJURY OR DEATH,
THEN WE ARE AUTHORIZED TO USE DEADLY FORCE.
Narrator: A RARE, BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT D.S. TRAINING
REVEALS SCENARIOS MODELED ON REAL-LIFE ATTACKS.
IN THIS DRILL, AN AMBASSADOR IS AMBUSHED DURING A MEETING
IN A SETTING DESIGNED TO RESEMBLE A REMOTE VILLAGE.
ACTORS, PROPS, AND PYROTECHNICS
MAKE THE EXPERIENCE INCREDIBLY REALISTIC.
GO BACK! GO BACK!
THE AMBASSADOR IS RUSHED INTO HIS CAR.
THEY'RE IN, THEY'RE IN, THEY'RE IN!
A MANNEQUIN REPRESENTING A CRITICALLY INJURED AGENT
IS STABILIZED AND EVACUATED BY HELICOPTER.
ONE, TWO, THREE.
TO PROTECT IS ALWAYS THE FIRST RESPONSIBILITY OF THE AGENTS,
AND THEY FALL BACK TO THE SECONDARY, IN THIS CASE,
THE DOWNED AGENT WHO NEEDED MEDICAL ATTENTION.
Narrator: UNLIKE SPECIAL OPERATIONS MISSIONS IN THE MILITARY
THAT INVOLVE OFFENSIVE STRIKES,
D.S. SPECIAL AGENTS PLAY DEFENSE.
THEIR MAIN RESPONSIBILITY
IS GETTING THEIR PROTECTEE TO SAFETY,
KNOWN AS GETTING OFF THE "X," OR GETTING OUT OF THE KILL ZONE.
WE REALLY TRY TO GET OFF THE "X" JUST AS QUICKLY AS WE CAN.
INSTEAD OF STICKING AROUND
TO SEE IF THEY COULD ENGAGE AN ENEMY.
Narrator: IN ANOTHER EXERCISE,
AN AMBASSADOR'S VEHICLE IS DISABLED
BY A ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADE.
Man: SIR, GET DOWN. SIR, GET DOWN.
AGENTS TAKE UP PROTECTIVE POSITIONS,
TRANSFER THE AMBASSADOR TO A BACK-UP VEHICLE,
AND GET OFF THE "X."
Fritz: THERE IS ALWAYS CONTINGENCY PLANS IN PLACE
THAT ARE SCRIPTED AND REHEARSED WITH THE AGENTS
BEFORE THEY GO OUT AND PERFORM A MISSION LIKE THIS.
Narrator: MOTORCADE SCENARIOS ARE PRACTICED RELENTLESSLY
BECAUSE THEY ARE OFTEN THE MOST DANGEROUS MISSIONS
SPECIAL AGENTS UNDERTAKE.
Breed: MOTORCADE IS ALWAYS CONSIDERED DANGEROUS,
BUT WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IS SPECIFICALLY CHOKE POINT AREAS.
A CHOKE POINT IS AN AREA THAT YOU HAVE TO GO TO.
Narrator: EVERY DAY, AGENTS PROTECT AMBASSADORS AND DIPLOMATS
WHEN THEY LEAVE THE PROTECTIVE WALLS OF THE EMBASSY COMPOUND
FOR BUSINESS AND DRIVE THROUGH THE CITY STREETS,
WHERE ROADSIDE BOMBS AND AMBUSHES
COULD BE WAITING AT EVERY TURN.
Breed: IEDs ARE A BIG, HUGE CONCERN FOR MOTORCADE ROUTES,
AND WE HAVE TO ADJUST ACCORDINGLY.
Narrator: TO MAKE TRAVEL SAFER, DIPLOMATIC SECURITY HAS
ONE OF THE LARGEST FLEETS OF ARMORED VEHICLES
IN THE WORLD.
ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS YOU'LL NOTICE ABOUT AN ARMORED VEHICLE
IS THE WEIGHT OF THE DOORS.
IT'S TYPICALLY TWO TO THREE TIMES
WHAT YOU'RE NORMALLY ACCUSTOMED TO HANDLING.
Narrator: THE SPECIFICATIONS ARE A CLOSELY GUARDED SECRET,
BUT EACH VEHICLE IS REINFORCED
WITH BALLISTIC-RESISTANT ARMOR AND GLASS
THAT PROVIDES PROTECTION FROM ARMED ATTACK AND ROADSIDE BOMBS.
EACH OF OUR VEHICLE PLATFORMS IS TESTED TO THE POINT OF FAILURE.
THAT INFORMATION IS, IN FACT, CLASSIFIED.
Narrator: MOTORCADES OFTEN INVOLVE A LEAD AND CHASE VEHICLE
THAT CAN BE TRACKED IN REAL TIME AT THE D.S. COMMAND CENTER
NEAR WASHINGTON, D.C.,
AND VEHICLES ARE SOMETIMES EQUIPPED
WITH AUDIO AND VIDEO RECORDING DEVICES.
THE TIME OF DAY AND ROUTE ARE CAREFULLY PLANNED AHEAD OF TIME
TO AVOID SECURITY CONCERNS.
IF WE'RE REALLY ON TOP OF OUR GAME, WE'RE GENERALLY NOT SEEN.
WE'RE NOT HEARD FROM.
WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE ANY SORT OF ENGAGEMENT
WITH ANY HOSTILE ELEMENT WHATSOEVER.
Miller: WE CALL IT A LO-PRO MOVE, A LOW PROFILE MOVE,
AND THE MORE WE CAN STAY UNDER THE RADAR, THE BETTER.
THE GOOD OLD DAYS WHEN THE AMERICAN FLAG
WAS FLYING FROM THE FENDER OF THE -- OF THE CADILLAC,
THAT JUST SIMPLY DOESN'T OCCUR ANYMORE.
IT'S TOO VISIBLE A TARGET.
Narrator: WHETHER PROVIDING MOTORCADE PROTECTION
OR SECURITY AT AN EMBASSY,
ALL D.S. SPECIAL AGENTS ARE TRAINED
TO RESPOND TO ANY TYPE OF ATTACK.
BUT WHEN A CRISIS BREAKS OUT THAT REQUIRES REINFORCEMENTS,
DIPLOMATIC SECURITY HAS A SPECIAL RESPONSE FORCE
CALLED A MOBILE SECURITY DEPLOYMENT,
OR M.S.D., AT THE READY.
[ GUNSHOTS ]
MOBILE SECURITY DEPLOYMENTS.
THAT'S BASICALLY OUR 911 RESPONSE TEAM.
THEY ARE OUR SHOCK TEAM, OR OUR HEAVY TEAM.
Narrator: DIFFERENT MSD UNITS OFTEN OPERATE
IN HIGH-THREAT COUNTRIES SUCH AS LIBYA AND YEMEN SIMULTANEOUSLY,
BUT THERE'S ALWAYS ONE SQUAD STANDING BY TO DEPLOY
WHENEVER AND WHEREVER TROUBLE FLARES UP.
Jones: WHEN THE DEPARTMENT CALLS AND SAYS,
"HEY, WE HAVE A PROBLEM IN THIS LOCATION,"
WE HAVE TO BE PACKED
AND READY TO GO OUT THE DOOR WITHIN 24 HOURS.
Narrator: MSD TEAMS ARE TRAINED TO OPERATE IN THE MOST HOSTILE TERRITORY
AND QUICKLY ESTABLISH A SAFE HAVEN
FOR AMBASSADORS AND DIPLOMATS.
Jones: IT COULD BE ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.
IT COULD BE A THREAT AGAINST AN AMBASSADOR.
IT COULD BE A THREAT AGAINST A FACILITY.
WE'RE BUILT AROUND PROVIDING A CONTINGENCY RESPONSE
OR AN ENHANCED RESPONSE FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE
AND HIGHER THREAT ENVIRONMENTS.
Narrator: MSD TEAMS ALSO TRAIN SECURITY FORCES IN OTHER COUNTRIES,
PART OF A BROADER D.S. PROGRAM CALLED ANTITERRORISM ASSISTANCE.
[ SHOUTING ]
IN AFGHANISTAN, AT A HIDDEN BASE
WHOSE NAME WE'VE AGREED TO WITHHOLD FOR SECURITY REASONS,
AND WHERE TELEVISION CAMERAS HAVE NEVER BEEN ALLOWED BEFORE,
DIPLOMATIC SECURITY SUPERVISES AN ELITE UNIT
OF THE COUNTRY'S PROTECTIVE SERVICE.
GUARDS PRACTICE HOSTAGE RESCUE...
AND HOW TO DISMANTLE A CAR BOMB
WITH A SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS THE DEVICE
TO BE REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE FROM A SAFE DISTANCE.
OUR ANTITERRORISM ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
MAKE SURE THAT THEY UNDERSTAND HOW WE OPERATE
AND WHAT OUR EXPECTATIONS ARE.
Narrator: D.S.'S ANTITERRORISM ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
DOESN'T JUST IMPROVE SECURITY IN OTHER COUNTRIES,
IT ALSO HELPS AGENTS TRACK DOWN TERRORISTS
HIDING IN THE SHADOWS.
Bultrowicz: WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH OUR FOREIGN COUNTERPARTS
TO BRING INDIVIDUALS TO JUSTICE.
[ GUNSHOTS ]
Narrator: COMING UP, PROTECTING AMERICA'S TOP DIPLOMAT.
THOSE MISSIONS LIVE UNDER A CONSTANT THREAT.
Narrator: AND LATER, D.S. SPECIAL AGENTS CLOSE IN
ON ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST WANTED TERRORISTS.
Miller: I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO THINK.
IT WAS A MATTER OF "GET HIM BEFORE HE GETS AWAY AGAIN."
Narrator: THE BUREAU OF DIPLOMATIC SECURITY
IS THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT'S
HIGHLY TRAINED PROTECTIVE SERVICE.
ELITE SPECIAL AGENTS ARE RESPONSIBLE
FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL U.S. AMBASSADORS AND DIPLOMATS,
INCLUDING ONE OF THE BIGGEST TARGETS FOR TERRORISTS,
THE U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE.
ANY SECRETARY OF STATE IS A VERY HIGH-PROFILE INDIVIDUAL.
Narrator: JUST AS THE SECRET SERVICE PROTECTS THE PRESIDENT,
DIPLOMATIC SECURITY PROTECTS THE SECRETARY OF STATE
AROUND THE CLOCK.
ANY D.S. AGENT DOING PROTECTIVE SECURITY
FOR THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND OTHERS
IS READY TO GIVE THEIR LIVES.
AS THE FACE OF AMERICAN DIPLOMACY,
THE U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE TRAVELS AROUND THE WORLD
TO MEET WITH LEADERS AND CONDUCT FOREIGN POLICY.
WHEN MEETINGS TAKE PLACE IN WAR ZONES
AND OTHER DANGEROUS AREAS,
THE SECRETARY OF STATE, WHOEVER HE OR SHE IS AT THE TIME,
IS ALWAYS IN THE CROSS HAIRS.
THOSE MISSIONS LIVE UNDER A CONSTANT THREAT.
WE'RE CERTAINLY TAKING RISKS WHENEVER WE LEAVE THE U.S.
WE DON'T HAVE THE CONTROL WE HAVE HERE, BUT WE MANAGE IT.
Narrator: SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON
HAS BEEN REFERRED TO AS A ROCK-STAR DIPLOMAT
FOR HER INTERNATIONAL POPULARITY
AND EXTENSIVE FOREIGN POLICY TRIPS,
CREATING EXTREME SECURITY CHALLENGES ALONG THE WAY.
NOTHING IS SIMPLE WHEN THE SECRETARY OF STATE TRAVELS.
Narrator: OUR CAMERAS ARE ALLOWED RARE ACCESS
INTO THE INNER WORKINGS OF HOW D.S. PROTECTS SECRETARY CLINTON.
SECRETARY CLINTON'S SECURITY DETAIL IS COMPRISED
OF HAND-SELECTED D.S. SPECIAL AGENTS
THAT KEEP HER IN A PROTECTIVE BUBBLE.
WE REFER TO IT AS A DIAMOND WHEN WE'RE WALKING.
THAT SECURE AREA WHERE WE'RE GONNA MAKE SURE
THAT WE HAVE CONTROL OVER WHAT GOES ON AROUND THE SECRETARY.
Narrator: THE DIAMOND IS ONE OF MANY CONFIGURATIONS
USED BY SPECIAL AGENTS
THAT ALLOWS FOR CONSTANTLY 360-DEGREE VISION
AND COVERAGE AROUND THE PROTECTEE.
ADVANCE TEAMS SWEEP LOCATIONS
WITH DOGS AND ELECTRONIC DETECTORS
FOR CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, AND RADIOLOGICAL AGENTS.
BEFORE SECRETARY CLINTON MAKES A MOVE,
DIPLOMATIC SECURITY STUDIES THE LATEST INTELLIGENCE
AND MODIFIES THE SECURITY PROFILE
BASED ON POTENTIAL TROUBLE.
SPECIAL AGENTS ALSO INVESTIGATE
SPECIFIC THREATS MADE AGAINST THE SECRETARY.
Moore: WE HAVE TO GO OUT AND FOLLOW UP ON PEOPLE
WHO MIGHT WANT TO DO HARM TO THE SECRETARY,
AND SOMETIMES THEY'RE SERIOUS.
Narrator: SECRETARY CLINTON TRAVELS
WITH D.S. SPECIAL AGENTS IN AN ARMORED CAR.
OFTEN, IT'S A HIGHLY MODIFIED CADILLAC
THAT'S BULLETPROOF AND BLAST-RESISTANT.
THE FULL EXTENT OF THE VEHICLE'S ENHANCEMENTS,
INCLUDING ITS ADVANCED SUSPENSION
AND INCREASED HORSEPOWER ARE CLASSIFIED.
CLOSE BY ARE HEAVILY ARMED AGENTS
READY TO ENGAGE ANY THREAT.
MOTORCADE TACTICS VARY,
DEPENDING ON THE DANGER LEVEL OF THE LOCATION,
AND CAN INVOLVE EXTENSIVE DECEPTION.
CAN YOU RUN DUMMY MOTORCADES? YES, YOU CAN.
CAN YOU SWITCH UP PEOPLE SITTING IN VEHICLES?
ABSOLUTELY.
DO THEY DO THESE THINGS?
SURE, THEY DO DIFFERENT SORTS OF TACTICS ALL THE TIME.
Narrator: DESPITE THE NEED FOR IRONCLAD SECURITY,
AGENTS TRY TO KEEP A LOW PROFILE.
Boswell: OUR OBJECTIVE IS THAT SHE CAN HAVE A SMOOTH VISIT,
HOPEFULLY WITHOUT TOO MUCH VISIBILITY
ON THE PART OF HER SECURITY.
Narrator: THE SECRETARY OF STATE
IS DIPLOMATIC SECURITY'S MOST VISIBLE PROTECTEE.
THE D.S. IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE
FOR PROTECTING HIGH-PROFILE DIGNITARIES FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
WHEN THEY VISIT THE UNITED STATES,
INCLUDING THE DALAI LAMA,
THE SPIRITUAL LEADER OF TIBETAN BUDDHISM.
Markwald: THE DALAI LAMA HAS MANY ADORING FANS
WHO ARE VERY ZEALOUS IN THEIR SUPPORT OF HIM.
BUT HE ALSO HAS A SMALL MINORITY THAT WISH TO DO HIM ACTUAL HARM.
OUR BIGGEST CONCERN IS TO KEEP THOSE ADORING FANS
WITHIN ACCESS, WITHIN REACH,
AND KEEP THE ELEMENT THAT WANTS TO DO HIM HARM AWAY.
Narrator: IN OCTOBER 2012,
THE DALAI LAMA GIVES A SERIES OF SPEECHES
IN DIFFERENT AMERICAN CITIES.
WE ARE GIVEN EXCLUSIVE, BEHIND-THE-SCENES ACCESS
TO HIS SECURITY DETAIL.
WE GENERALLY TRY TO CREATE A SECURITY BUBBLE
FROM THE MOMENT THAT THE PROTECTEE LANDS AT THE AIRPORT
TO THE TIME HE TAKES OFF AT THE END OF THE VISIT.
Narrator: AT A SPEECH AT
THE MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY IN CAMBRIDGE,
AN ADVANCED TEAM OF D.S. SPECIAL AGENTS
SECURES THE FACILITY SEVERAL HOURS AHEAD OF TIME.
WE HAVE SWEPT THE AREA WITH E.O.D. BOMB DOGS,
AS WELL AS E.O.D. TECHS TO MAKE SURE
THAT THERE'S NOTHING HERE THAT'S GONNA HARM HIS HOLINESS.
Narrator: AS PEOPLE BEGIN TO ARRIVE, SPECIAL AGENTS SCAN THE CROWD
LOOKING FOR THE FACES OF PEOPLE THEY'VE STUDIED
WHO ARE DEEMED A SECURITY RISK.
WHAT THE D.S. AGENTS ARE SPECIFICALLY LOOKING FOR
ARE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE HAVE ON B.O.L.O. LISTS,
WHICH MEANS BE ON THE LOOKOUT FOR SPECIFIC INDIVIDUALS.
SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS MAY HAVE ARREST WARRANTS.
OTHER INDIVIDUALS MAY JUST BE PEOPLE THAT WE WANT TO WATCH
BECAUSE THEY COULD ESSENTIALLY BE VERY FEVERISH SUPPORTERS.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY DO NOT GET TOO CLOSE,
IN THIS CASE, TO HIS HOLINESS.
Narrator: PROTECTING THE DALAI LAMA IS A DELICATE BALANCE
BETWEEN ALLOWING INTERACTION AND KEEPING HIM SAFE.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEE HIM.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO GET CLOSE TO HIM.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE TOUCHED BY HIM.
Narrator: AFTER THE SPEECH,
DIPLOMATIC SECURITY MOVES THE DALAI LAMA
TO HIS NEXT LOCATION IN A MOTORCADE.
SPECIAL AGENTS ARE PREPARED FOR ANY CONTINGENCY.
THE PROTECTION BUBBLE LASTS 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK,
UNTIL THE DALAI LAMA LEAVES THE COUNTRY.
Markwald: ALL THE AGENTS ARE ON HIGH ALERT.
IT'S A VERY DIFFICULT STATE TO MAINTAIN.
WE TRY TO ROTATE OUR AGENTS THROUGH POSITIONS OFTEN
TO KEEP THEM FRESH.
Narrator: PROVIDING PROTECTION IN THE UNITED STATES
HAS ITS CHALLENGES,
BUT IT BECOMES EVEN MORE DIFFICULT
IN AN UNSTABLE COUNTRY, SUCH AS LIBYA.
COMING UP...
TODAY, MANY AMERICANS ARE ASKING, "HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?"
Narrator: THE AMBUSH IN BENGHAZI,
AND THE FIGHT TO SAVE AMBASSADOR J. CHRISTOPHER STEVENS.
Narrator: HIGHLY SKILLED SPECIAL AGENTS
OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT'S BUREAU OF DIPLOMATIC SECURITY
PROTECT MORE THAN 250 EMBASSIES, CONSULATES,
AND MISSIONS WORLDWIDE,
INCLUDING FACILITIES IN WAR ZONES
AND HIGH-THREAT ENVIRONMENTS.
EMBASSIES ARE A VISIBLE SYMBOL OF THE UNITED STATES,
AND, THEREFORE, A TARGET.
Narrator: SPECIAL AGENTS ARE ON THE FRONT LINES
WHEN THE ARAB SPRING BEGINS ON DECEMBER 18, 2010, IN TUNISIA
WHEN A FRUIT PEDDLER LIGHTS HIMSELF ON FIRE
IN AN ACT OF SELF-PROTEST.
THAT ONE SPARK LED TO WHAT WE NOW KNOW OF AS THE ARAB SPRING.
Narrator: PROTESTS SPREAD ACROSS NORTH AFRICA AND THE MIDDLE EAST.
WITHIN MONTHS, LEADERS FROM FOUR COUNTRIES --
TUNISIA, EGYPT, LIBYA, AND YEMEN --
ARE FORCED FROM POWER.
AND MASSIVE UNREST IN SEVERAL OTHER COUNTRIES FOLLOWS.
U.S. EMBASSIES AND THE DIPLOMATIC SECURITY AGENTS
WHO PROTECT THEM GO ON HIGH ALERT.
Boswell: THIS WAS AS BIG TEST FOR U.S. FOREIGN POLICY,
CERTAINLY A BIG TEST FOR THE BUREAU OF DIPLOMATIC SECURITY.
IT HAD A LARGE IMPACT ON OUR AGENTS AND OUR EMBASSIES.
Narrator: IN CAIRO, THE U.S. EMBASSY
IS JUST A BLOCK AND A HALF AWAY FROM TAHRIR SQUARE,
THE EPICENTER OF THE PROTEST AGAINST HOSNI MUBARAK,
THE AUTOCRATIC EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT
WHO TOOK OVER IN 1981.
Miller: YOU COULD PHYSICALLY FEEL THE VIBRATIONS OF THE VOICES.
IT WAS TREMENDOUSLY DISCONCERTING.
Narrator: SPECIAL AGENT BILL MILLER IS
IN CHARGE OF SECURITY FOR THE CAIRO EMBASSY
DURING THE REVOLT.
THE GOVERNMENT WAS IN TOTAL UPHEAVAL.
NO ONE KNEW WHO WAS IN CHARGE.
WE WERE, TO A GREAT EXTENT, LEFT ON OUR OWN.
Narrator: MILLER OVERSEES THE SAFE EVACUATION
OF MORE THAN 700 EMBASSY STAFF AND FAMILY MEMBERS.
IT WAS THE LARGEST DIPLOMATIC EVACUATION OF ANY U.S. POST,
AND THEN AN ADDITIONAL 4,500 TO 5,000 AMERICAN CITIZENS
WHO ALSO REQUESTED EVACUATION
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO LOOK OUT FOR THEM,
JUST AS WE DO OURSELVES.
Narrator: BUT MILLER AND A CORE GROUP OF HIS SECURITY STAFF
REMAIN AT THE EMBASSY TO KEEP IT FROM BEING OVERRUN
AND TO PROTECT ESSENTIAL EMBASSY STAFF
STILL WORKING THERE.
Miller: WE HAVE TO STAY BEHIND.
WE'RE THERE TO CONTINUE THE SECURITY OF THE MISSION.
Narrator: ON FEBRUARY 11, 2011,
AFTER WEEKS OF SWELLING, ANGRY PROTESTS,
MUBARAK STEPS DOWN, AVERTING A POSSIBLE CIVIL WAR.
DAYS LATER, PROTESTS ERUPT IN NEIGHBORING LIBYA,
BUT THE BRUTAL MILITARY DICTATOR MUAMMAR GADDAFI
IS DEFIANT AND VOWS TO FIGHT TO THE DEATH.
[ RAPID GUNFIRE ]
A VIOLENT AND BLOODY CIVIL WAR BREAKS OUT.
THE DECISION IS MADE TO EVACUATE ALL OFFICIAL PERSONNEL
FROM THE U.S. EMBASSY IN TRIPOLI,
THIS TIME INCLUDING D.S. SPECIAL AGENTS.
EVERYONE IS ORDERED OUT.
BEFORE THE TRIPOLI EMBASSY CLOSES,
D.S. SPECIAL AGENTS DESTROY COMPUTER HARD DRIVES
WITH SLEDGE HAMMERS
TO PREVENT CLASSIFIED AND SENSITIVE INFORMATION
FROM FALLING INTO THE WRONG HANDS.
A SMALL LIBYAN GUARD FORCE REMAINS
TO KEEP THE EMBASSY FROM BEING TAKEN OVER.
BUT TWO MONTHS LATER, ON MAY 1, 2011,
AS GADDAFI'S RULE BEGINS TO SLIP,
THE LOCAL GUARDS ARE OVERRUN, AND THE EMBASSY IS DESTROYED.
THE EMBASSY WAS LOOTED AND SACKED BY GADDAFI'S THUGS.
Narrator: NO ONE IS KILLED OR INJURED,
BUT THE EMBASSY IS DAMAGED BEYOND REPAIR.
IN AUGUST 2011, AFTER SIX MONTHS OF GRISLY FIGHTING,
THE REBELS, AIDED BY NATO AIR STRIKES,
CLOSE IN ON GADDAFI'S HEADQUARTERS IN TRIPOLI.
LIBYA IS FREE, FINALLY,
AND SHE'S -- SHE'S BACK FOR HER SONS.
Narrator: GADDAFI ESCAPES AND DISAPPEARS,
BUT THE REBELS GAIN CONTROL OF THE COUNTRY.
DIPLOMATIC SECURITY SENDS IN
ITS ELITE MOBILE SECURITY DEPLOYMENT TEAM
TO OPEN UP A NEW EMBASSY WITH A NEW GOVERNMENT.
YOU HAVE TO PUT IN
THE PHYSICAL AND TECHNICAL SECURITY COUNTERMEASURES
BEFORE YOU CAN PUT PEOPLE IN.
Narrator: ON OCTOBER 20, 2011, GADDAFI IS KILLED.
BY THAT TIME, DIPLOMATIC SECURITY IS ALREADY HARD AT WORK
WITH A NEW REGIME AT A NEW EMBASSY IN TRIPOLI.
WE TAKE GREAT PRIDE IN OUR PART THAT WE PLAYED IN THAT,
BEING ABLE TO GET OUR PERSONNEL BACK ON THE GROUND,
TO PROVIDE THEM WITH A SECURE PLATFORM
TO CONDUCT VITAL DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS.
Narrator: THE NEW TRIPOLI EMBASSY IS DESIGNED
WITH THE LATEST SAFETY MEASURES THAT MAKE IT SECURE ENOUGH
FOR OPERATIONS IN LIBYA TO RESUME.
Martinec: WE, OBVIOUSLY, TRY TO SLOW DOWN TRAFFIC
COMING TO THE FRONT GATES, SO THESE BARRIERS MAKE THAT HAPPEN,
AS THE VEHICLES HAVE TO ZIG ZAG THROUGH THEM.
Narrator: D.S. SPECIAL AGENT JOHN MARTINEC
IS IN CHARGE OF ALL SECURITY AT THE TRIPOLI EMBASSY.
A POSITION CALLED THE REGIONAL SECURITY OFFICER, OR R.S.O.
EVERY VISITOR HAS TO BE CHECKED, ACTUALLY, MANUALLY CHECKED,
TO MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NOTHING ELSE
THAT THE X-RAY MACHINE HAS MISSED.
Narrator: ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2012,
OUR CAMERAS ARE GRANTED ACCESS TO THE TRIPOLI EMBASSY,
WHERE WE HOPE TO INTERVIEW THE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO LIBYA,
J. CHRISTOPHER STEVENS, FOR THIS PROGRAM.
THE DAY BEFORE,
THE AMBASSADOR TRAVELS FROM TRIPOLI
TO THE U.S. MISSION IN BENGHAZI, A CITY 400 MILES AWAY,
WHERE THE REVOLUTION AGAINST GADDAFI BEGAN.
THE MISSION IN BENGHAZI IS NOT AN EMBASSY OR CONSULATE,
BUT A SCALED-DOWN OUTPOST OF THE LARGER EMBASSY IN TRIPOLI,
AND A SMALLER SECURITY FORCE PROTECTS IT.
ON THE NIGHT OF SEPTEMBER 11th, FIVE D.S. SPECIAL AGENTS
AND SEVERAL ARMED LOCAL MILITIA MEMBERS
SERVING AS HOST NATION SECURITY,
AS WELL AS SEVERAL LOCAL GUARDS, ARE PROTECTING THE OUTPOST
WHEN AMBASSADOR STEVENS AND HIS SECURITY STAFF
COME UNDER ATTACK.
THE CRISIS IN LIBYA. THE CONSULATE IS ATTACKED.
Narrator: THE BENGHAZI MISSION HAS A REINFORCED SAFE ROOM,
AND THE AMBASSADOR IS RUSHED THERE
AT THE START OF THE ASSAULT.
ACCORDING TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND NEWS REPORTS,
SEVERAL DOZEN HEAVILY ARMED ATTACKERS
PENETRATE THE MISSION'S PERIMETER
AND IGNITE DIESEL FUEL INSIDE THE BUILDING
WHERE AMBASSADOR STEVENS, AN INFORMATION OFFICER,
AND A D.S. SPECIAL AGENT HAVE TAKEN SHELTER.
AS THE BUILDING ERUPTS IN FLAMES,
THE THREE INSIDE ARE OVERCOME BY THICK SMOKE
AND TRY TO CRAWL OUT A WINDOW.
ONLY ONE MAKES IT OUT,
THE D.S. SPECIAL AGENT WHO GOES BACK IN SEVERAL TIMES
LOOKING FOR THE AMBASSADOR,
BUT CAN'T FIND HIM IN THE BLACK, CHOKING SMOKE.
THE AGENT COLLAPSES
AND SUFFERS SEVERE LUNG DAMAGE FROM THE FUMES,
WHILE THE OTHER AGENTS ON THE COMPOUND
KEEP SEARCHING FOR THE AMBASSADOR
INSIDE THE BURNING BUILDING.
ADDITIONAL SECURITY PERSONNEL ARRIVE TO HELP,
BUT NO ONE IS ABLE TO FIND THE AMBASSADOR
IN THE CHAOS AND FIRE.
BUT THEY DO FIND THE INFORMATION OFFICER,
WHO'S DEAD FROM THE SMOKE.
TAKING HEAVY FIRE, THE GROUP FLEES THE COMPOUND
IN THIS ARMORED VEHICLE TO AN ANNEX A MILE AWAY.
AMBASSADOR STEVENS IS EVENTUALLY FOUND
IN THE BURNED-OUT WRECKAGE OF THE MISSION
BY LOCALS WHO RECORD THE CHAOTIC SCENE.
LIBYANS HELPED SOME OF OUR DIPLOMATS FIND SAFETY,
AND THEY CARRIED AMBASSADOR STEVENS' BODY
TO THE HOSPITAL,
WHERE WE TRAGICALLY LEARNED THAT HE HAD DIED.
Narrator: AT THE ANNEX, THE AMERICANS COME UNDER ATTACK AGAIN.
TWO FORMER NAVY S.E.A.L.s
REPORTEDLY WORKING AS CIA SECURITY OFFICERS ARE KILLED,
AND A D.S. SPECIAL AGENT IS CRITICALLY INJURED.
EVENTUALLY ALL U.S. PERSONNEL,
ALONG WITH THE REMAINS OF THE FOUR DECEASED,
MAKE IT TO BENGHAZI AIRPORT, AND FLY TO SAFETY IN TRIPOLI.
TODAY, MANY AMERICANS ARE ASKING,
INDEED, I ASKED MYSELF, "HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?
"HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN IN A COUNTRY WE HELPED LIBERATE
IN A CITY WE HELPED SAVE FROM DESTRUCTION?"
Narrator: THE DEADLY STRIKE IS A DEVASTATING BLOW
TO THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT.
AND, MAKE NO MISTAKE, JUSTICE WILL BE DONE.
J. CHRISTOPHER STEVENS IS THE FIRST U.S. AMBASSADOR
KILLED IN AN ATTACK WHILE ON DUTY SINCE 1979
WHEN THE U.S. AMBASSADOR TO AFGHANISTAN
WAS SHOT IN KABUL.
AN INDEPENDENT REVIEW BEGINS TO DETERMINE WHAT WENT WRONG,
AND WHAT SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE
TO BETTER PROTECT AGAINST A SIMILAR ATTACK IN THE FUTURE?
WE'RE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT WHAT WAS USED LAST AGAINST US,
AND TRYING TO PREDICT WHAT WILL BE USED NEXT
AGAINST US, OR AGAINST OTHERS.
Narrator: THREE MONTHS AFTER THE BENGHAZI ATTACK,
THE REVIEW IS MADE PUBLIC.
WHILE IT GIVES HIGH PRAISE TO THE D.S. SPECIAL AGENTS
WHO RISKED THEIR LIVES TO SAVE AMBASSADOR STEVENS,
THE REVIEW IS SEVERELY CRITICAL OF D.S. SENIOR MANAGEMENT
FOR FAILING TO ENSURE THAT THE PRIORITY SECURITY NEEDS
OF A HIGH RISK, HIGH THREAT POST WERE MET,
RESULTING IN INADEQUATE INTELLIGENCE
AND PROTECTIVE FORCES IN BENGHAZI.
THE REVIEW ALSO MAKES SEVERAL SECURITY RECOMMENDATIONS,
INCLUDING REQUIRING EQUIPMENT FOR SMOKE AND FIRE SURVIVAL.
SECRETARY CLINTON ACCEPTS ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS
AND BEGINS IMPLEMENTING THEM IMMEDIATELY.
THE NEXT THREAT IS ALWAYS LURKING.
Miller: THE BOTTOM LINE OF OUR JOB IS THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE ON.
YOU CAN NEVER BE RELAXED.
Narrator: COMING UP, D.S. SPECIAL AGENTS
HUNT DOWN A TERRORIST MASTERMIND.
Miller: HE BASICALLY HAD BEEN TOLD,
"YOU'RE EITHER WITH ME, OR YOU'RE A DEAD MAN."
Narrator: DIPLOMATIC SECURITY IS FRONT AND CENTER
DURING ONE OF THE BIGGEST MANHUNTS IN RECENT HISTORY.
BUT IT OPERATES QUIETLY BEHIND THE SCENES,
AND FEW KNOW THE TRUE STORY OF ITS ROLE IN THE INVESTIGATION
OF THE FIRST WORLD TRADE CENTER BOMBING
THAT TAKES PLACE ON FEBRUARY 26, 1993,
WHEN ISLAMIC TERRORISTS STRIKE IN THE HEART OF NEW YORK CITY.
A RENTAL TRUCK PACKED
WITH NEARLY 1,500 POUNDS OF EXPLOSIVES
BLOWS UP IN THE BASEMENT
OF THE WORLD TRADE CENTER'S NORTH TOWER.
6 PEOPLE ARE KILLED, AND MORE THAN 1,000 ARE INJURED.
AN UNPRECEDENTED MULTIAGENCY INVESTIGATION INTO THE BOMBING
QUICKLY IDENTIFIES THE MASTERMIND OF THE OPERATION --
RAMZI YOUSEF, A KUWAITI-BORN TERRORIST,
BUT YOUSEF IS A FORMIDABLE FOE.
HE WAS A MASTER OF DISGUISE.
IN ALL OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS THAT HE TOOK FOR VARIOUS PASSPORTS,
HE ALWAYS ADJUSTED THE ANGLE OF HIS HEAD
SO THAT THINGS WERE A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.
Narrator: HOURS AFTER THE 1993 WORLD TRADE CENTER BOMBING,
YOUSEF FLEES THE COUNTRY.
THE BEST INTELLIGENCE POINTS TOWARDS PAKISTAN,
WHERE DIPLOMATIC SECURITY LEVERAGES ITS CONTACTS
FOR MORE INFORMATION.
Bultrowicz: WE DO HAVE THAT ACCESS.
WE HAVE THAT LOCAL KNOWLEDGE, AND WE CAN MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.
Narrator: DIPLOMATIC SECURITY ALSO PUTS OUT A $2 MILLION REWARD
FOR INFORMATION ON YOUSEF
THROUGH ITS REWARDS FOR JUSTICE PROGRAM.
REWARDS FOR JUSTICE OFFERS REWARDS FOR INFORMATION
THAT LEADS TO THE LOCATION AND/OR ARREST
OF INTERNATIONAL TERRORISTS.
Narrator: BUT YOUSEF LEAVES PAKISTAN FOR THE PHILIPPINES,
WHERE HE PLANS TO ASSASSINATE THE POPE
AND BLOW UP 12 COMMERCIAL AIRLINERS SIMULTANEOUSLY
WITH TIME-ACTIVATED BOMBS.
ON DECEMBER 11, 1994,
HE TESTS ONE OF HIS BOMBS ON PHILIPPINES FLIGHT 434.
IT KILLS ONE PERSON, BUT DOES NOT BRING THE PLANE DOWN.
THREE WEEKS LATER,
A FIRE CAUSED BY BOMB-MAKING MATERIALS
BREAKS OUT AT YOUSEF'S APARTMENT IN THE PHILIPPINES,
AND POLICE UNCOVER HIS DIABOLICAL SCHEMES.
YOUSEF ESCAPES BACK TO PAKISTAN,
WHERE DIPLOMATIC SECURITY IS ADVERTISING ITS REWARD.
Miller: WE HAD BLANKETED EVERY SQUARE INCH, I THINK,
THAT WE COULD POSSIBLY FILL, WITH MATCHBOOKS,
WITH PAMPHLETS OFFERING THE $2 MILLION FOR RAMZI YOUSEF.
Narrator: IN FEBRUARY 1995,
A CLOSE AID OF YOUSEF'S TURNS ON THE TERRORIST
AND CONTACTS REGIONAL SECURITY OFFICER BILL MILLER
AT THE U.S. EMBASSY IN ISLAMABAD.
HE BASICALLY HAD BEEN TOLD BY RAMZI YOUSEF,
"YOU'RE EITHER WITH ME, OR YOU'RE A DEAD MAN."
AND SO, HE REALIZED THAT HIS BEST OPPORTUNITY THEN
WAS TO DO WHAT HE COULD TO HELP US ARREST RAMZI YOUSEF.
Narrator: THE INFORMANT AGREES TO SET YOUSEF UP,
BUT MILLER NEEDS TO ACT FAST.
Miller: IT WAS A MATTER OF, GET HIM BEFORE HE GETS AWAY AGAIN,
BECAUSE RAMZI HAD GIVEN US THE SLIP
ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS A YEAR AND A HALF PRIOR TO THAT.
Narrator: ON FEBRUARY 7, 1995,
BILL MILLER, HIS PARTNER, AND PAKISTANI AUTHORITIES
RAID ROOM 16 AT THE SUCASA GUEST HOUSE
IN ISLAMABAD.
THEY FIND THE TERRORIST MASTERMIND INSIDE.
Miller: I SAID, "WHAT'S UP, RAMZI?"
AND AS SOON AS I SAID THAT, HIS EYES POPPED OPEN.
HIS EYES WELLED UP WITH TEARS.
HIS KNEES WENT OUT FROM UNDER HIM.
Narrator: YOUSEF IS CONVICTED IN SEPARATE U.S. TRIALS
FOR THE 1993 WORLD TRADE CENTER BOMBING
AND THE 1994 PHILIPPINES AIRLINES BOMBING.
HE'S SENTENCED TO LIFE PLUS 240 YEARS IN PRISON.
YOUSEF IS ONE OF THE FEW REWARDS FOR JUSTICE CASES
THAT'S BEEN MADE PUBLIC.
SECURITY AND CONFIDENTIALITY, AS YOU CAN IMAGINE,
IS A CORNERSTONE OF THE PROGRAM.
Narrator: ANOTHER REWARDS FOR JUSTICE CASE THAT'S BEEN REVEALED
IS THE KILLING OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S SONS
UDAY AND QUSAY.
ON JULY 22, 2003,
A SPECIAL OPERATIONS TEAM TRIES TO CAPTURE THE BROTHERS
AT THEIR HIDEOUT IN MOSUL.
IT TURNS INTO A FOUR-HOUR FIGHT TO THE DEATH.
BOTH OF SADDAM HUSSEIN'S SONS ARE KILLED.
THE INFORMANT THAT REVEALED THE LOCATION IS PAID $30 MILLION
THROUGH THE REWARDS FOR JUSTICE PROGRAM.
THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN AROUND SINCE 1984,
AND SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE PAID OUT
OVER $100 MILLION TO 70 INDIVIDUALS.
Narrator: BUT NOT ALL D.S. INVESTIGATIONS ARE TIED
TO THE REWARDS FOR JUSTICE PROGRAM.
OFTEN, IT IS GOOD, OLD-FASHIONED DETECTIVE WORK
THAT GETS THE JOB DONE.
IN 2002, WALL STREET JOURNAL REPORTER DANIEL PEARL
IS KIDNAPPED IN KARACHI, PAKISTAN, AND BEHEADED.
D.S. SPECIAL AGENT RANDALL BENNETT
HELPS TRACK DOWN THOSE RESPONSIBLE.
Boswell: RANDALL BENNETT WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN CONNECTING THE DOTS
THAT EVENTUALLY LED TO KHALID SHEIKH MOHAMMED,
THE GUY WHO KILLED DANIEL PEARL.
Narrator: KHALID SHEIKH MOHAMMED,
RAMZI YOUSEF'S UNCLE AND ONE OF OSAMA BIN LADEN'S CLOSEST AIDES,
IS CONSIDERED THE PRINCIPLE ARCHITECT
OF THE SEPTEMBER 11th ATTACKS ON THE UNITED STATES.
ON MARCH 1, 2003,
HE'S FINALLY LOCATED IN PAKISTAN AND ARRESTED.
KHALID SHEIKH MOHAMMED, THE MAN BELIEVED TO BE
THE MASTERMIND BEHIND THE 9/11 ATTACKS,
IS IN AMERICAN HANDS TONIGHT.
Narrator: KHALID SHEIKH MOHAMMED IS HELD BY THE U.S. MILITARY
AT GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA,
WHERE HE CONFESSES TO HIS INVOLVEMENT IN 9/11
AND TO KILLING DANIEL PEARL.
Bultrowicz: HAVING AN AGENT STATIONED OVERSEAS,
THEY SPEAK THE LANGUAGE.
THEY'RE FAMILIAR WITH THE CULTURE.
THEY KNOW THE LANDSCAPE.
Narrator: PUTTING TERRORISTS OUT OF BUSINESS BEFORE THEY STRIKE
IS CRUCIAL TO KEEPING THE PEOPLE AND FACILITIES
OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE SAFE.
WE HAVE VERY, VERY, VERY GOOD INFORMATION
THAT A VERY LARGE NUMBER OF POTENTIAL ATTACKS ON OUR PEOPLE
HAVE BEEN DETERRED AND NEVER TOOK PLACE
BECAUSE OF THE MEASURES THAT WE HAVE TAKEN.
Narrator: HUNTING TERRORISTS
AND PROTECTING AGAINST THEIR RUTHLESS ATTACKS ON THE PEOPLE
AND FACILITIES OF THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE,
IS A FIERCE BATTLE THAT REQUIRES
THE BEST TRAINING, TECHNOLOGY, AND WEAPONS.
AND ALWAYS STAYING ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE THREAT.