Military & Espionage

NOVA

The allies used special arial photos to deal a blow to the Nazi rocket program. Continue

May 18, 2012

To The Contrary

For the first time in U.S. history, white newborns are outnumbered by babies of color; the U.S. Army recently made history by officially opening jobs in combat battalions to women, but direct ground combat roles are still exclusive to men; To The Contrary travels to China to explore the role the U.S. Foreign Service plays in diplomacy overseas. Continue

Bombing Hitler's Dams

NOVA

Experts recreate the bold feat of “dambuster” pilots who used bouncing bombs to destroy two key German dams in WWII. Continue

Making Stuff: Stronger

NOVA

David Pogue tests his mettle against the world’s strongest stuff, from steel and Kevlar to bioengineered silk. Continue

Hayden: "We are safer now ... and ever not yet safe enough."

FRONTLINE

"A lot of it is working, but it's a tough, knowing enemy. It's a human activity, and we probably have got to do some things better," former CIA chief Michael Hayden tells FRONTLINE in this interview for "Are We Safer?". He says that U.S. counterterrorism efforts since 9/11 have been effective, though maybe not efficient, and discusses the challenges ahead. Continue

Defining "Suspicious Activity"

FRONTLINE

See someone talking too long on a pay phone? Wearing unseasonal clothing? Avoiding eye contact? We're all supposed to keep an eye out, but what exactly constitutes terrorism-related suspicious behavior? Here are some examples from state and local checklists. (From FRONTLINE: "Are We Safer?") Continue

Dana Priest: Reporting "Top Secret America"

FRONTLINE

How do you investigate a world the government doesn't want you to see? "Everything lives somewhere," explains Washington Post reporter and FRONTLINE correspondent Dana Priest, who started her investigation into America's post-9/11 terrorism-industrial complex with basic shoe-leather journalism -- tracking down the addresses of military contractors. (From "Are We Safer?") Continue

Hayden: "We are safer now ... and ever not yet safe enough."

FRONTLINE

"A lot of it is working, but it's a tough, knowing enemy. It's a human activity, and we probably have got to do some things better," former CIA chief Michael Hayden tells FRONTLINE in this interview for "Are We Safer?". He says that U.S. counterterrorism efforts since 9/11 have been effective, though maybe not efficient, and discusses the challenges ahead. Continue

Biography of Winfield Scott

American Experience

As a cadet at West Point, young Ulysses S. Grant considered General Winfield Scott "the finest specimen of manhood my eyes had ever beheld," and admired his skills as a general. Nicknamed "Old Fuss and Feathers," Scott delighted in military pomp and cut a resplendent figure in his uniforms. But neither Scott's appearance nor his military victories would be enough to win him the presidency. Continue

Tour the USS Nimitz

Carrier

View stunning photographs and video clips of the USS Nimitz. Continue

Killer Subs in Pearl Harbor

NOVA

The stealth attack of Pearl Harbor by Japanese midget submarines is a little known story of WWII. Continue

3D Spies of WWII

NOVA

With 3D graphics, NOVA reveals how the Allies used special aerial photos to deal a dire blow to the Nazi rocket program. Continue

A Quantum Leap in Computing

NOVA

MIT’s Seth Lloyd, a pioneer of quantum computing, explains its applications and revolutionary potential. Continue

Global Threats Are Local Problems

FRONTLINE

Local incidents can signal "patterns of behavior" when it comes to global threats like terrorism, drugs and child pornography, says Philip Mudd, who served in the intelligence community for more than 20 years. We need to be able to analyze and share information, but law enforcement needs the appropriate guidance to protect civil liberties. (From FRONTLINE: "Are We Safer?") Continue

Fusion Centers Operate in a "Netherworld"…

FRONTLINE

An ill-defined mission … broad dissemination of inaccurate information … lack of oversight -- these are some of ACLU policy counsel Mike German's concerns about the post-9/11 domestic intelligence apparatus. Prior to joining the ACLU, he was an FBI agent for 16 years, working on domestic terrorism and covert operations. (From FRONTLINE "Are We Safer?") Continue

Map: Your Local Fusion Center

FRONTLINE

Fusion centers sprang up at the local level in the wake of the post-9/11 complaints about the failure to "connect the dots." Built upon the idea of cops on a beat, they're designed to facilitate the sharing of intelligence between local, state and federal officials. (From FRONTLINE: "Are We Safer?") Continue

Dana Priest: Reporting "Top Secret America"

FRONTLINE

How do you investigate a world the government doesn't want you to see? "Everything lives somewhere," explains Washington Post reporter and FRONTLINE correspondent Dana Priest, who started her investigation into America's post-9/11 terrorism-industrial complex with basic shoe-leather journalism -- tracking down the addresses of military contractors. (From "Are We Safer?") Continue

Fusion Centers Operate in a "Netherworld"…

FRONTLINE

An ill-defined mission … broad dissemination of inaccurate information … lack of oversight -- these are some of ACLU policy counsel Mike German's concerns about the post-9/11 domestic intelligence apparatus. Prior to joining the ACLU, he was an FBI agent for 16 years, working on domestic terrorism and covert operations. (From FRONTLINE "Are We Safer?") Continue

You're the General

American Experience

The battle of Shiloh, fought over two days in April 1862, was one of the Civil War's bloodiest clashes. Thousands of soldiers on both sides died. But what happened during those two awful days? Was Union general Ulysses S. Grant a hero? Or did his decisions at Shiloh lead to tragedy? Walk the battlefield in his boots and judge for yourself. Continue

Was World History Fated?

Guns Germs and Steel

How did crops, animals, and geography create today's global power structure? Continue

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