# How Are They, ahem, "Questioning" Khalid Shaikh Mohammed? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 4, 2003, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-they-ahem-questioning-khalid-shaikh-mohammed/158884 "2003-03-04T00:20:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![KidCharlemagne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed8c4c/32.png) [@KidCharlemagne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KidCharlemagne)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-they-ahem-questioning-khalid-shaikh-mohammed/158884/21 "2003-03-04T16:27:19Z")
Is he “officially” protected by the Geneva Convention or does war have to be declard? ---
**Author:** ![Ender\_Will](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Ender\_Will](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ender_Will)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-they-ahem-questioning-khalid-shaikh-mohammed/158884/22 "2003-03-04T16:34:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by habs \* > \*\*I’m sort of confused about something. Why would Khalid Mohammed spill the beans about _anything_? He knows that he is in a no-win situation, no matter what he does. For example, if he tells the interrogators everything, they aren’t just going to pat him on the back and then let him go. He’ll probably be imprisoned for the rest of his life (if not executed). On the other hand, even if he doesn’t say anything, he’ll be imprisoned for the rest of his life (if not executed). If he chooses option A, then he will have exposed a lot of the sleeper cells and/or their plans, but still doesn’t help himself. If he takes option B, at least none of the possible terrorist plans will be spoiled, and he can safely die as a martyr. \*\* If he wanted to stay alive, he could most likely cut a deal in which he would give up all his information (though it would be hard to prove when he had done so) in exchange for life imprisonment as opposed to death. As to al Qaeda’s policy on undergoing interrogation, according to their handbook for field agents (all sorts of interesting stuff in there…you can probably download it, Google “al Qaeda training manual” or some such. It’s legal to have, at least according to the professor whom I got it from) is basically don’t admit to anything, but if they (the USA in this case) ask you about specific incidents/plans, blame everything on someone they know is high in the organization and is already suspected of masterminding similar plans. Of course, this strategy would work better the farther removed from the leadership the person being interrogated is. Under “Necessary Qualifications for the Organization’s members,” “Sacrifice” is listed as the 4th necessary qualification. “He (the member) has to be willing to do the work and undergo martyrdom for the purpose of achieving the goal and establishing the religion of majestic Allah on earth.” If Khalid truly believes in his cause, he’ll be willing to die for it, so interrogation probably wouldn’t get much of anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![DrLizardo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5fc32e/32.png) [@DrLizardo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrLizardo)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-they-ahem-questioning-khalid-shaikh-mohammed/158884/23 "2003-03-04T17:09:13Z")
While nice to ponder painful and obnoxious techniques, I can’t imagine why they wouldn’t just dose him up with sodium pentathol… ---
**Author:** ![Ragiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6de8d8/32.png) [@Ragiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ragiel)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-they-ahem-questioning-khalid-shaikh-mohammed/158884/24 "2003-03-04T17:48:36Z")
The problem with pentothal is it’s along the lines of “in vino veritas” with IV barbiturate substituted for alcohol. If applied properly, the recipient is snowed but still able to speak. So, ideally, he won’t be able to stick to a false story. However, he won’t be able to give accurate true history either, will be unable to tell reality from drug-induced dreams, and will frequently confirm anything he’s asked. Same problems hold true for physical pain, as well. Carry it on long enough and you’ll almost surely get answers, but the accuracy of those answers is questionable at best. ---
**Author:** ![vibrotronica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/a9a28c/32.png) [@vibrotronica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vibrotronica)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2003, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-they-ahem-questioning-khalid-shaikh-mohammed/158884/25 "2003-03-04T18:17:11Z")
> [@](#): > > Personally, I’d get him addicted to the best, purest heroin and let him have any kind of sex he wanted (well, almost any) and then cut him off from both until he talked. Pure heroin isn’t necessary, and the sex is superfluous. Morphine will do just fine. Junkies will do ANYTHING for a fix. After a week or two in the embrace of Sister Morphine, Allah will take a back seat. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-they-ahem-questioning-khalid-shaikh-mohammed/158884/26 "2003-03-05T02:47:39Z")
They can always implant electrodes in his brain and directly evoke the desire to cooperate. (At least I presume neurosurgeons can do something like this. I posted a thread a while back asking just what was the current state of the art in mind control). ---
**Author:** ![Spavined\_Gelding](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@Spavined\_Gelding](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spavined_Gelding)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-they-ahem-questioning-khalid-shaikh-mohammed/158884/27 "2003-03-05T03:27:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Lumpy \* > \*\*They can always implant electrodes in his brain and directly evoke the desire to cooperate. (At least I presume neurosurgeons can do something like this. I posted a thread a while back asking just what was the current state of the art in mind control). \*\* People have a “desire to cooperate” center in their brain? Whoo, boy! I wish I’d known about that some years ago. ---
**Author:** ![censored](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/35a633/32.png) [@censored](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/censored)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-they-ahem-questioning-khalid-shaikh-mohammed/158884/28 "2003-03-05T03:40:57Z")
**oldbatoutahell** ’s got it. When you use “other” methods, you’ll get an answer, but it will not neccesarily be accurate or true at all. Torturing or ‘truth serum’ is often the last step. Unless you’re doing it for fun. _shrug_ ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-they-ahem-questioning-khalid-shaikh-mohammed/158884/29 "2003-03-05T07:04:20Z")
Well, there’s a possibility that they are exposing him to William shatner singing “Mr. Tamborine man” over and over again until he cracks… But something tells me that would be considered “Torture”. There’s also Chinese Water Toture, putting them in a completely white and featureless room with bright lights, making him watch PBS during a pledge drive, etc… No need to shock his balls or anything. I have heard that this guy isn’t a cave dweller and he likes the good life. If that’s true, It’ll take less to get his cooperation. ---
**Author:** ![HPL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3da27b/32.png) [@HPL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HPL)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 7:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-they-ahem-questioning-khalid-shaikh-mohammed/158884/30 "2003-03-05T07:16:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by censored \* > \*\ ***oldbatoutahell** ’s got it. > > When you use “other” methods, you’ll get an answer, but it will not neccesarily be accurate or true at all. Torturing or ‘truth serum’ is often the last step. > > Unless you’re doing it for fun. > > _shrug_ \*\* Mr. Blonde: I don’t give a good fuck what you know or don’t know, I’m going to torture you anyway. ---
**Author:** ![djf750](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@djf750](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djf750)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-they-ahem-questioning-khalid-shaikh-mohammed/158884/31 "2003-03-05T07:17:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by HPL \* > \*\*Well, there’s a possibility that they are exposing him to William shatner singing “Mr. Tamborine man” over and over again until he cracks… > > But something tells me that would be considered “Torture”. > > There’s also Chinese Water Toture, putting them in a completely white and featureless room with bright lights, making him watch PBS during a pledge drive, etc… > > No need to shock his balls or anything. > > I have heard that this guy isn’t a cave dweller and he likes the good life. If that’s true, It’ll take less to get his cooperation. \*\* An Andy Williams Christmas Album might do the trick also, although maybe that is a bit too inhumane, even for a terrorist. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Calculus\_of\_Logic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@The\_Calculus\_of\_Logic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Calculus_of_Logic)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 7:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-they-ahem-questioning-khalid-shaikh-mohammed/158884/32 "2003-03-05T07:20:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by habs \* > \*\* > Faced with the possibility of Mohammed taking Option B, what can the interrogators possibly do (short of physical torture) to coerce him into giving him all of the details they seek? \*\* Weaken his resolve with sleep deprivation, food deprivation, isolation, manipulation, etc. until he decides to cooperate to get better treatment Threaten to put him in a dangerous prison in a dangerous country if he doesn’t cooperate, but put him in a humane prison in a nicer country if he does. ---
**Author:** ![Fuel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/df705f/32.png) [@Fuel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fuel)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-they-ahem-questioning-khalid-shaikh-mohammed/158884/33 "2003-03-05T07:45:30Z")
Sew his butt-cheecks together and feed him taco bell and chili dogs… all while hanging him upside down all day in 55 degree F temp in total darkness and playing Hanson doowop 100 times a day. Everyone has a breaking point and no one believes in a cause so much as to be tortured indefinately… there is not even a religious reason to endure years of daily torture. He’ll just come to the conclusion that Allah wouldn’t want this for him and it’s part of Allah’s plan for the interrogators to know his info. He will talk, it’s just a matter of time. Unless the interrogators get bored with him too early, which is what he is hoping. But the second he realizes they are not giving up, he will/should break… or find a way to kill himself. ---
**Author:** ![istara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e79b87/32.png) [@istara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/istara)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-they-ahem-questioning-khalid-shaikh-mohammed/158884/34 "2003-03-05T12:08:02Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AcidKid \* > \*\*[Already asked.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=166666) > > [How to manual from declasified CIA documents.](http://www.heart7.net/mcf/kubark.htm) \*\* Freaky! Did you note the thread number of that first link? **166666** :eek: ---
**Author:** ![bettybad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bettybad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bettybad)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-they-ahem-questioning-khalid-shaikh-mohammed/158884/35 "2003-03-05T13:44:18Z")
They will most certainly TORTURE him and you are naive if you think not. This article in yesterday’s NYTimes is pretty specific about what they will most likely do and raises the issue of how “torture” is defined in International Law (including conventions to which the US is a signatory–obviously signed before the current admin came into power). Judging from what was done to Lindh (which was technically torture according to Internat’l standards) they will most certainly torture this guy. Coincidentally, yesterday’s Times also had an article about the “homocide” of an Afghani detainee in a US prison in Afghanistan. [http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/04/politics/04QUES.html](http://www.nytimes.com/2003/03/04/politics/04QUES.html) ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-they-ahem-questioning-khalid-shaikh-mohammed/158884/36 "2003-03-05T14:24:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by raisinbread \* > \*\*Anyone notice that he looks a lot like a swarthier Ron Jeremy??? \*\* [Yes.](http://image1ex.villagephotos.com/1745492.jpg) :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 5, 2003, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-they-ahem-questioning-khalid-shaikh-mohammed/158884/37 "2003-03-05T16:07:49Z")
ABC News stated last night that he’s being held at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. ---
**Author:** ![djf750](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ea666f/32.png) [@djf750](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/djf750)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-they-ahem-questioning-khalid-shaikh-mohammed/158884/38 "2003-03-06T03:49:28Z")
Seriously, why don’t they just get him addicted to morphine as vibro stated earlier? It seems simple, he’d be begging for more and should spill his guts. ---
**Author:** ![Ender\_Will](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Ender\_Will](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ender_Will)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2003, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-they-ahem-questioning-khalid-shaikh-mohammed/158884/39 "2003-03-06T06:38:00Z")
I asked my AJ teacher about this stuff today in class, he said (and I agree) that the truly determining factor is not what techniques are used, but how strongly Khalid believes in his cause. As to **Fuel** ’s comment that _Everyone has a breaking point and no one believes in a cause so much as to be tortured indefinately… there is not even a religious reason to endure years of daily torture._ Years of daily torture would be kind of pointless, as time is off the essence if we have any hope of thwarting any of his plans or catching anyone else whose whereabouts Khalid might divulge. And yes, everyone has a breaking point, but there mental breaking point may be beyond their physical breaking point, i.e. they would die before they crack. Think of any of the religious figures that were martyred, or Nathan Hale, “I regret that I have but one life to lose for my country” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-are-they-ahem-questioning-khalid-shaikh-mohammed/158884.md?page=1)