Summary

In Part 4, Chapter 9, "KSM: What Happens When the Stranger Is a Terrorist?" Gladwell describes the CIA's work with senior Al Qaeda official Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, or KSM. Psychologist James Mitchell, and his colleague, Bruce Jessen, interrogated KSM after his capture in 2003. He was wanted for his involvement in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Mitchell and Jessen were significantly impressed by KSM's intellect. Gladwell quotes their responses to KSM’s demeanor during interrogation, referencing his disturbing descriptions of torturing and killing people. Initially, KSM's interrogation was assigned to a range of other agents. Some were too kind, while others were too combative.

When Mitchell and Jessen first met, they were working for the Air Force's SERE, Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape, program. The program was meant to prepare subjects for the worst case scenarios if captured by the enemy. Working for the program, Mitchell had had to...