The CIA wants to get inside Khalid Shaikh Mohammed’s head. But his interrogators – CIA, FBI or from a foreign security service – are working against the clock. Mohammed’s information about impending terrorist operations and the location of al-Qaida leaders and cells grows more dated by the hour. Whether the CIA can learn anything useful from the alleged Sept. 11 mastermind depends on the skills and methods of the interrogators, Mohammed’s willingness to talk and perhaps simply time. Captured early Saturday in a raid in Pakistan, he is now believed to be in U.S. custody overseas. Of top priority during the questioning is gaining intelligence that could help quickly disrupt attacks being planned or lead to added precautions, American counterterrorism officials said. That could mean a domestic law enforcement raid to break up a cell ready to strike, or an increase of security at areas Mohammed names as targets subject to imminent attacks. Intelligence about Mohammed’s activities led in part to the orange alert that lasted most of February, counterterrorism officials said. Overseas, it could mean an operation that leads to the capture of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. Full Story
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