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美国国家公共电台 NPR A Guantanamo Guard And His Detainee Reunite

时间:2018-08-14 07:20:05

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LULU GARCIA-NAVARRO, HOST:

Sometimes, we can connect surprisingly deeply with someone and then never see them again - a missed connection. In our ongoing1 series, we're now going to bring you the story of a reconnection first reported by Carol Rosenberg of the Miami Herald2. It's an extraordinary tale of two unlikely friends - one an inmate3 in Guantanamo Bay prison, a man named Mohamedou Ould Slahi, accused of acts of terrorism - the other his guard, former Army Sgt. Steve Wood - and a recent trip Wood took to Mauritania, where Slahi now lives. We brought them together again to speak with us. Steve Wood is with us from Portland, Ore. Welcome to the program.

STEVE WOOD: Thank you very much.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: And Mohamedou joins us via Skype from Nouakchott, Mauritania. Welcome to the program to you.

MOHAMEDOU OULD SLAHI: Thank you for having me, Lulu.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Mohamedou, I want to start with you because your story is the subject of an internationally best-selling memoir4 called "Guantanamo Diary." Just remind us. Why were you detained?

SLAHI: I first came into the radar5 of the U.S. intelligence when I received a call from my cousin Mahfouz. It was 1999. He wanted me to help him transfer some money to his sick father. And he called me from the phone of UBL.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: UBL - you mean Osama bin6 Laden7?

SLAHI: Correct. So I helped him. And my name was flagged ever since. And the Mauritania, your country and Canada agreed to lure8 me to a place where there is no law.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: What they used to call extraordinary rendition, when the United States would take someone from a third country - take them to be interrogated9.

SLAHI: That is correct. That was 2000, mind you. And when 9/11 came, that was open season to violate human rights. And that's how I was kidnapped.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Steve, I'm going to take you back, as well. You met Mohamedou in 2004. How did you end up as a guard in Guantanamo?

WOOD: So I was in the - actually, in the National Guard. And we were told - our unit was told that we were, you know, going to be deployed10. And they wouldn't tell us where we were going at first, so we thought we were all going to go to Iraq. And then I thought, like - about a week before we leave, they said, oh, yeah. You guys are going to Guantanamo Bay because we're a military police unit.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: What do you remember about first meeting Mohamedou?

WOOD: I remember it was, like, I expected, you know, like, when I got the job to watch him, I didn't - they didn't tell us what we were doing. You know, they said it was, you know, one detainee you're all going to watch. So I was expecting somebody, like, really hardcore, like, big guy or, you know, scary guy that's, you know, supposed to be really dangerous. And he walks out, this little guy, and just smiles and shakes my hand.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Yeah. Mohamedou, do you remember meeting Steve for the first time?

SLAHI: Yes. I was very scared. I didn't want to talk to anyone. And he came. And he asked me - I remember the first question. Do you drink coffee? And I'm not a big coffee drinker. So - I'm a tea drinker. And then I said, yeah, yes. Yes. And then said, yeah, I made some coffee. He said, do you know how to play card? I say, I don't know, but if you teach me, I can play. I don't know whether I told him that I kick his ass11 in any game he teaches me.

WOOD: (Laughter).

GARCIA-NAVARRO: I hear there's a particular film that you kind of bonded12 over.

WOOD: Yeah, "The Big Lebowski."

GARCIA-NAVARRO: It's a great film.

WOOD: We watched that over and over.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Mohamedou, what did you like about "The Big Lebowski"? - The Dude.

SLAHI: Yeah, The Dude. I'm not The Dude. You got the wrong guy. You know, he has everything. He was speaking for me in a way. You know, he was like my surrogate. I loved him because he was, like - in places, his name was mistaken for a very, supposedly, bad guy. And I saw myself in him.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: So just months before you arrive, Steve, Mohamedou had been subjected to what was called by the Bush administration enhanced interrogation, effectively torture. And what Mohamedou went through was really extraordinary. According to a Justice Department investigation13, he was, among other things, beaten, shackled14 to the floor, stripped naked. Were you aware of what had gone through?

WOOD: Mohamedou - he told me a little bit. You know, he said how they messed him up pretty good, you know?

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Mohamedou, after going through something like that, it must have been hard to trust a guard like Steve.

SLAHI: You know, I had no choices. Steve struck me as a very nice guy. And we became, quote, unquote, "friends." And there is nothing I was hiding. I don't have any hidden agenda or anything. And I was at peace in my heart at that time because when I go to sleep, I know I haven't done anything to anyone. I told the people before they tortured me, please, don't torture me. I didn't do anything. They say, we have to torture you very much. Then when they tortured me, I told them everything they want to hear. I signed confession15. That said, the ball was in their court. You know, I very much surrender to my lot.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Steve, you left Guantanamo after nine months there. And you stayed in touch.

WOOD: I think in - it was actually in 2010, I think, that, like, a federal judge said that he needed to be released. And that's when I had got a hold of somebody on his legal team and just, you know, wrote an email saying, hey. You know, I was Mohamedou's - one of his guards. And, you know, I would like to help any way I can. And, you know, tell him hi for me, you know?

SLAHI: I did not actually know who was talking to my lawyer because he gave her a fake name. Then I recognized him. I said, please, do tell him that I appreciate his help, but I don't want him to hurt himself. He was very brave. And he wrote a very bold letter, and that helped me really get out. And for that, I'm very thankful to him and to all those who stood by me.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Mohamedou, you were in captivity16 in Guantanamo for 14 years. You were never charged with an offense17. And both the review board at the prison and a U.S. federal judge eventually said you should go for lack of evidence. So, Steve, Mohamedou ends up in Mauritania. You're in the United States, but you decided18 to take a recent trip there to visit Mohamedou during Ramadan.

WOOD: It was a really good time. You know, Mohamedou - I don't think he changed at all. I don't think he aged19, honestly, since I saw him last.

SLAHI: You know, I went to the airport. And I was so happy. And then when he emerged out of the gate, same guy. You know, same guy (imitating Steve) with this American accent, obviously, you know? You know, he was clearly a military guy. And that scared me, scared me because I want him a little bit to blend in. I mean, he doesn't have to look, like, Arab or African, but he need to blend a little bit. But he did not blend at all. And then, you know, we just, like - there was no gap of time.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: You just picked up where you left off.

SLAHI: Absolutely. And my family accepted him.

WOOD: That was probably the coolest part about it. I was sitting there eating dinner with Mohamedou and his family and, like, all his million little nephews and playing soccer with them. And it was totally awesome20.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Steve, since this story was made public by the Miami Herald, I'm curious what the reaction has been from the people that you know.

WOOD: It's actually been - I've had really good reactions. Like, I'm from a small town in Oregon, very Republican. And, like, honestly, everybody that I've talked to about it has been, like, really supportive and positive about it.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: I mean, yeah. You guys are unlikely friends.

SLAHI: I think the one thing that Steve and I have in common - that we act like small children. The first day we met, we were, like, friends. You know, we played with each other. We gossiped about interrogators. We gossiped about guards behind their backs.

WOOD: (Laughter).

SLAHI: And we never believed in this war. There is no war between Muslims and Americans. There is no war between Americans and poor people in the world. There is only a war between people on the top who have their own agenda.

WOOD: Yeah. I totally agree with Mohamedou. People are people, no matter what. When we die, it doesn't matter what passport we hold, you know? I don't want to, like, go through my life, you know, like, using politics on helping21 me decide who I'm friends with or not, you know?

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Planning on seeing each other again?

WOOD: Definitely. So, like, when I went to Mauritania, I got a bunch of souvenirs and stuff. And Turkish Airlines lost my bags on the way back. So, like, I have nothing that I bought from over there, so I have to go back and get some more souvenirs anyway, so maybe I'll see Mohamedou.

GARCIA-NAVARRO: Steve Wood, Mohamedou Ould Slahi, thank you very much.

SLAHI: Thank you, Lulu, for having me.

WOOD: Thank you very much.


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 ongoing 6RvzT     
adj.进行中的,前进的
参考例句:
  • The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
  • The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。
2 herald qdCzd     
vt.预示...的来临,预告,宣布,欢迎
参考例句:
  • In England, the cuckoo is the herald of spring.在英国杜鹃鸟是报春的使者。
  • Dawn is the herald of day.曙光是白昼的先驱。
3 inmate l4cyN     
n.被收容者;(房屋等的)居住人;住院人
参考例句:
  • I am an inmate of that hospital.我住在那家医院。
  • The prisoner is his inmate.那个囚犯和他同住一起。
4 memoir O7Hz7     
n.[pl.]回忆录,自传;记事录
参考例句:
  • He has just published a memoir in honour of his captain.他刚刚出了一本传记来纪念他的队长。
  • In her memoir,the actress wrote about the bittersweet memories of her first love.在那个女演员的自传中,她写到了自己苦乐掺半的初恋。
5 radar kTUxx     
n.雷达,无线电探测器
参考例句:
  • They are following the flight of an aircraft by radar.他们正在用雷达追踪一架飞机的飞行。
  • Enemy ships were detected on the radar.敌舰的影像已显现在雷达上。
6 bin yR2yz     
n.箱柜;vt.放入箱内;[计算机] DOS文件名:二进制目标文件
参考例句:
  • He emptied several bags of rice into a bin.他把几袋米倒进大箱里。
  • He threw the empty bottles in the bin.他把空瓶子扔进垃圾箱。
7 laden P2gx5     
adj.装满了的;充满了的;负了重担的;苦恼的
参考例句:
  • He is laden with heavy responsibility.他肩负重任。
  • Dragging the fully laden boat across the sand dunes was no mean feat.将满载货物的船拖过沙丘是一件了不起的事。
8 lure l8Gz2     
n.吸引人的东西,诱惑物;vt.引诱,吸引
参考例句:
  • Life in big cities is a lure for many country boys.大城市的生活吸引着许多乡下小伙子。
  • He couldn't resist the lure of money.他不能抵制金钱的诱惑。
9 interrogated dfdeced7e24bd32e0007124bbc34eb71     
v.询问( interrogate的过去式和过去分词 );审问;(在计算机或其他机器上)查询
参考例句:
  • He was interrogated by the police for over 12 hours. 他被警察审问了12个多小时。
  • Two suspects are now being interrogated in connection with the killing. 与杀人案有关的两名嫌疑犯正在接受审讯。 来自《简明英汉词典》
10 deployed 4ceaf19fb3d0a70e329fcd3777bb05ea     
(尤指军事行动)使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 ); 施展; 部署; 有效地利用
参考例句:
  • Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
  • The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。
11 ass qvyzK     
n.驴;傻瓜,蠢笨的人
参考例句:
  • He is not an ass as they make him.他不象大家猜想的那样笨。
  • An ass endures his burden but not more than his burden.驴能负重但不能超过它能力所负担的。
12 bonded 2xpzkP     
n.有担保的,保税的,粘合的
参考例句:
  • The whisky was taken to bonded warehouses at Port Dundee.威士忌酒已送到邓迪港的保稅仓库。
  • This adhesive must be applied to both surfaces which are to be bonded together.要粘接的两个面都必须涂上这种黏合剂。
13 investigation MRKzq     
n.调查,调查研究
参考例句:
  • In an investigation,a new fact became known, which told against him.在调查中新发现了一件对他不利的事实。
  • He drew the conclusion by building on his own investigation.他根据自己的调查研究作出结论。
14 shackled 915a38eca61d93140d07ef091110dab6     
给(某人)带上手铐或脚镣( shackle的过去式和过去分词 )
参考例句:
  • The hostage had been shackled to a radiator. 当时人质被铐在暖气片上。
  • He was shackled and in darkness of torment. 他被困在黑暗中备受煎熬。
15 confession 8Ygye     
n.自白,供认,承认
参考例句:
  • Her confession was simply tantamount to a casual explanation.她的自白简直等于一篇即席说明。
  • The police used torture to extort a confession from him.警察对他用刑逼供。
16 captivity qrJzv     
n.囚禁;被俘;束缚
参考例句:
  • A zoo is a place where live animals are kept in captivity for the public to see.动物园是圈养动物以供公众观看的场所。
  • He was held in captivity for three years.他被囚禁叁年。
17 offense HIvxd     
n.犯规,违法行为;冒犯,得罪
参考例句:
  • I hope you will not take any offense at my words. 对我讲的话请别见怪。
  • His words gave great offense to everybody present.他的发言冲犯了在场的所有人。
18 decided lvqzZd     
adj.决定了的,坚决的;明显的,明确的
参考例句:
  • This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
  • There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。
19 aged 6zWzdI     
adj.年老的,陈年的
参考例句:
  • He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了,也老点了。
  • He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老,然而记忆力还好。
20 awesome CyCzdV     
adj.令人惊叹的,难得吓人的,很好的
参考例句:
  • The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
  • That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.
21 helping 2rGzDc     
n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的,辅助的
参考例句:
  • The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
  • By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

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