56. Bin Laden vs the CIA: Death in Pakistan (Ep 6)

The Rest Is Classified

Goalhanger

History

4.6 • 732 Ratings

🗓️ 16 June 2025

⏱️ 63 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

His poetry celebrated a cosmic struggle of violence and glory, but his end was far from a medieval power play. Why did Osama bin Laden spend his final years in a secluded compound in Pakistan, attempting to manage a global terrorist organisation while living a surprisingly mundane life? What were the chilling details of the raid that finally brought him down, and how did it forever change the landscape of global security? In the final episode of our series on Osama bin Laden vs the CIA, we delve into his strange, semi-retired life in Abbottabad, where he micro-managed Al Qaeda from a makeshift studio and devoured books about himself. Discover how the US military's capabilities evolved from the late 1990s to 2011, culminating in the precise operation that targeted his compound. From the dramatic helicopter mishap to the final moments inside his "self-made prison," we recount the daring raid and its immediate aftermath. Join Gordon and David as they conclude this wild series, reflecting on bin Laden's ultimate demise, his shattered legacy, and the profound, lasting impact he cast over the world. Plus, make sure you’re subscribed to the Declassified Club via the link below for a special, bonus interview with a man who spent his career tracking down Al Qaeda’s infamous leader. ------------------- To sign up to The Declassified Club, go to www.therestisclassified.com or click this ⁠⁠⁠link⁠⁠⁠. To sign up to the free newsletter, go to: ⁠https://mailchi.mp/goalhanger.com/tric-free-newsletter-sign-up⁠ ------------------- Get our exclusive NordVPN deal here ➼ nordvpn.com/restisclassified It's risk-free with Nord's 30 day money back guarantee ------------------- Order a signed edition of Gordon's latest book, The Spy in the Archive, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠via this link.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Order a signed edition of David's latest book, The Seventh Floor, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠via this link.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ------------------- Email: [email protected] Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@triclassified⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Assistant Producer: Becki Hills Producer: Callum Hill Senior Producer: Dom Johnson Exec Producer: Tony Pastor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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0:00.0	For exclusive interviews, bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to series,
0:09.0	first look at live show tickets, a weekly newsletter, and discounted books.
0:13.1	Join the declassified club at the rest is classified.com.
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0:59.0	He hunches forth, staining the blades of Lance's red.
1:05.3	May God not let my eye stray from the most eminent humans should they fall.
1:09.1	As the stallion bears my witness that I hold them back,
1:14.1	my stabbing is like the cinders of fire that explode into flame.
1:16.8	Well, welcome to the rest is classified.
1:17.7	I'm Gordon Carrera.
1:19.1	And I'm David McCloskey.
1:24.5	And that, unfortunately, is the poetic verse of none other than Osama bin Laden.
1:27.9	Thank you, David, for making me read that wonderful bit of poetry.
1:35.6	Revenge for Snowden. It's definitely revenge for Snowden. I also, I mean, I could have used poetry in every episode of this series. So this is admirable restraint on my part to only
1:41.1	included in the last episode. So you actually, your thanks are accepted. You
1:46.3	are very welcome. Very good. But like many megalomaniacs, Osama bin Laden fancied himself a poet.
	...

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