Former Air Force psychologist James Mitchell told Fox News that he was the person who physically waterboarded Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed — and that the terrorist also prophetically told him that the United States would one day turn on him.
“Yes, I waterboarded KSM,” Mr. Mitchell said on “The Kelly File” on Monday night. “I was part of a larger team that waterboarded a small number of detainees.”
Mr. Mitchell also said Mohammed told him that America would not have the stomach to beat the terrorists — that the political and media worlds would one day turn on those who were conducting the interrogations and investigations of terror-tied individuals, Fox News reported.
Mr. Mitchell initially refused to talk to the media about his interrogation work, but changed his mind because of what he described as the political nature of the Senate’s report — that Democrats never contacted any of the CIA agents to ask their sides of the story.
“They issue this report that essentially stirs up all of the crazies and all the jihadists, so now we’re getting death threats,” he said, Newsmax reported. “I don’t mind giving my life for my country, but I do mind giving my life for a food fight for political reasons between two groups of people who should be able to work it out like adults.”
He also said during the Fox News interview: “No one from the Senate committee ever asked me a single thing. If they think I’ve abused somebody, they should ask me about it. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed has the opportunity to address the charges against him, but I don’t.”
Mr. Mitchell initially spoke to Vice News on Sunday and confirmed his participation in the interrogation of Mohammed.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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