The film Zero Dark Thirty about the ‘Bin Laden raid’ in Abbottabad in May 2011 enjoyed an unprecedented degree of official co-operation in its production, notably from the CIA and the DOD. Judicial Watch, a conservative lobbying organisation, obtained copies of emails between the writer and director of the film, Mark Boal and Kathryn Bigelow, and various officials within the CIA and DOD.
The documents also include transcripts of meetings, memos and for good measure I have also included the released DOD emails from those on the USS Vinson regarding the burial at sea of a body presumed to be Osama Bin Laden. The released documents provide a detailed source-base for a case study of the involvement of the CIA and other military and intelligence organisations in the production of popular culture.
Zero Dark Thirty – CIA docs (1st release, PDF 2.1MB)
Zero Dark Thirty – DOD docs (1st release, PDF, 72.1MB)
Zero Dark Thirty – CIA and DOD docs (2nd release, PDF, 2.64MB)
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