(updated
The Trial of Osama Bin Laden...
Notes on a drama or documentary, entitled "The Trial of Osama Bin Laden", conceived in September, 2010, first published here on September 16, 2010.
Please contact Cam Longhurst with your questions or comments, or regarding permissions to use this information.
"The Trial of Osama Bin Laden", premise...
Fugitive Osama Bin Laden has been captured near the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan, and is brought to the U.S. to stand trial for war crimes, primarily pertaining his involvement in the destruction of the Twin Towers in 2001.
This drama or documentary would address the many issues around such a trial, and would make a prediction based on the most likely decision outcomes.
What would the trial be like? What would the reaction from the Muslim- and non-Muslim world groups be? Where would the trial take place? Who would defend, prosecute, and judge Bin Laden? What witnesses would be presented on either side? What is the factual evidence against him? Would he speak at trial or before? What world-wide events would take place around the trial?
What would the verdict be? Would Bin Laden be set free if found innocent? Would his actions be justified? If convicted, what would his sentence be? Would victims get to make impact statements?
Treatment...
As a documentary, the treatment would be more academic. Experts can be interviewed, facts reviewed, options can be explored, determinations can be made, outcomes can be predicted.
As a docu-drama, many more emotions can be explored. Scenes of capture, arrival in the U.S., rallies and demonstrations world-wide, pre-trial positioning, courtroom enactments, reactions of victims and supporters - all these can be presented in a manner that would get a far more emotional response from the viewing audience.
There is so much material to cover, maybe a docu-drama mini-series is called for.
Production....
The material would inevitably be very controversial and inciteful. I don't see this production being shown safely in a theatre, it would be something meant for private viewing.
An American television news channel like CNN seems most likely to provide a fair, balanced and broad-based documentary.
An American network like CBS, NBC, or ABC could perhaps better handle the docu-drama treatment.
Budget would depend on the dramatizations and the scope, depth and breadth of interviews.
Aftermath...
There would certainly be repercussions from such a broadcast, and the broadcaster should be prepared to take full responsibility for the content.
Why air such a presentation?
We are not getting any younger - I am waiting in my short life to see some things happen, have some questions answered. This is an event that may, in reality, never happen. Fairly documenting or dramatizing it gives us a chance to at least attain some sense of justice.
Could such a presentation bring any peace to this world or just more tragedy?
There are many questions...
© Products of Concord North Ltd. Home