The Other Latif: Cuba-ish

Apr 22, 2022

This podcast delves into the anniversary of Abdul Latif Nasser's transfer to Guantanamo Bay, blending personal narratives with historical reflections. It highlights the urgent establishment of the detention facility post-9/11, examining ethical dilemmas and the psychological toll on detainees. Nasser's journey is explored, revealing the complexities of legal representation amid human rights concerns. The harrowing stories of hunger strikes protest the dire conditions faced, while journalists wrestle with barriers in their pursuit of truth, illustrating the intricate dance between hope and systemic injustice.

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ANECDOTE

First Detainees Arrive

The first detainees arrived at Guantanamo Bay on January 11, 2002.
They were transported under harsh conditions: sensory deprivation, diapers, and no bathroom breaks.

ANECDOTE

Arrival Scene

Upon arrival, the detainees, weakened and disoriented, often collapsed from the heat and dehydration.
The scene was chaotic with screaming, barking dogs, and confused orders.

INSIGHT

Humane Treatment

General Mike Lennart prioritized humane treatment of detainees.
He believed that mirroring their potential brutality would diminish the U.S.

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Almost exactly twenty years ago, detainee 244 got transferred to Guantanamo Bay. Captured by American forces at the battle Tora Bora five months previous, Abdul Latif Nasser was shaved, hooded, shackled, diapered, and flown halfway across the world.

The Radiolab special series, The Other Latif, kicked off when one of our hosts, Latif Nasser, made a bizarre and shocking discovery. He shares his name with detainee 244. A man the U.S. government paints a terrifying picture of as Al-Qaeda’s top explosives expert, and one of the most important advisors to Osama bin Laden. Nasser’s lawyer claims, on the other hand, that he was at the wrong place at the wrong time, and that he was never even in Al-Qaeda. This clash launched our Latif into a years-long investigation, picking apart evidence, attempting to separate fact from fiction, and trying to uncover what the man with whom he shares a name actually did or didn’t do. Along the way, Radiolab’s Latif reflects on American values and his own religious past, and wonders how a fellow nerdy, suburban Muslim kid, may have gone down such a strikingly different path.

Episode 5: Cuba-ish

To mark the solemn occasion of the other Latif's transfer to, "the legal equivalent of outer space," we thought we'd replay Cuba-ish, the fifth episode of our special series which first aired back in 2020. In this episode, our Latif heads to Guantanamo Bay to try to speak to his namesake. Before he gets there, he dives deep, seeking the answer to what seems like a simple question: why Cuba? Why in the world did the United States pick this sleepy military base in the Caribbean to house “the worst of the worst”? Support Radiolab by becoming a member of The Lab today.

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