Final answer:
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was subjected to 'enhanced interrogation techniques' at Guantanamo Bay, aimed at gathering intelligence. This approach has been criticized for its legality, efficacy, and moral implications, affecting America's global reputation and the adherence to international laws.
Step-by-step explanation:
The use of enhanced interrogation techniques, which includes instances of torture, was a significant aspect of the United States' response to terrorism under the Bush administration. Khalid Sheikh Mohammed is among the most high-profile detainees subjected to these methods. The techniques used during his interrogation were intended to extract information regarding terrorist plots and the functioning of al-Qaeda. However, the application of such interrogation methods has been met with widespread condemnation and has raised questions regarding their effectiveness, legality, and the moral stance of the US.
Guantanamo Bay served as a focus for these controversial practices. Detainees, labeled as "unlawful combatants", were deprived of rights typically afforded to prisoners of war by international treaties, all under the justification of national security and intelligence gathering. The U.S. Supreme Court held in 2006 that the military tribunals at Guantanamo Bay violated both federal law and the Geneva Conventions, showcasing the tension between efforts to maintain national security and upholding international and domestic law.
The treatment of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed included controversial enhanced interrogation techniques aimed at intelligence collection but has sparked debates regarding efficacy, legality, and morality. These actions have led to criticism and have affected America's international reputation and its adherence to international laws, such as the Geneva Conventions.