After an 11-day journey through the rugged terrain of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, John Miller, a former ABC News correspondent who later became the FBI’s chief spokesman, arrived at a camp in the region. The first thing he noticed was the constant rumbling of generators providing the camp with power, along with the strong smell of gasoline. However, his attention was soon diverted to something more pressing: the sound of bullets raining down around him.
As it turned out, the source of the gunfire was the arrival of Osama bin Laden and his convoy. The al-Qaeda leader was surrounded by seven bodyguards, whose frantic scanning of the area belied their anxiety. Miller, who was on assignment as a journalist, immediately recognized that the show of force was both theatrical and pointless. With so many rounds being fired indiscriminately into the air, it would have been impossible to pinpoint an assassin.
Despite the chaos and danger surrounding him, Miller followed the security detail into a nearby hut, where he would have the opportunity to interview one of the world’s most wanted men. He would later become one of the few Western journalists to have this privilege.
Miller’s journey through the wilds of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border highlights the dangers and unpredictability of conflict zones. It also underscores the importance of courageous journalists who are willing to put themselves in harm’s way to bring the truth to light. For Miller, it was a moment he would never forget, and one that would go down in history as a pivotal point in the hunt for Osama bin Laden.