John Kiriakou's Dead Drop S1E17 Zain
11 snips
Mar 2, 2026 A gripping recounting of bringing a wounded detainee into a chaotic Pakistani hospital. Vivid details of sleepless nights, bedside conversations, and unexpected poetry discovered in a captor's diary. Tense moments around security decisions, medical urgency, and a sudden nighttime transfer that changes everything.
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Tying Abu Zubaydah To The Hospital Bed
- John Kiriakou describes tying Abu Zubaydah to a Pakistani hospital bed to prevent escape and ensure 24-7 CIA custody.
- He tore a spare sheet into strips, tied wrists and ankles, and ignored Pakistani doctors' objections to keep him from leaving.
Nightlong Vigil In A Mosquito-Infested Ward
- John stayed at Abu Zubaydah's bedside amid filth and mosquitoes wearing a bright red SpongeBob shirt while Zubaydah intermittently regained consciousness.
- Zubaydah reacted violently on awakening, going into ventricular fibrillation, then dozed after Demerol as John continued to watch.
Bodyguard's Gunshot Reveals Possible Pakistani Action
- A Syrian bodyguard captured with Abu Zubaydah told John he was shot at point-blank while restrained, contradicting official escape claims.
- John found a large powder-burned gunshot through the center of the man's leg, despite his explicit order not to shoot.