“In a memoir due out Tuesday [November 9, 2010], [former President George W.] Bush makes clear that he personally approved the use of that coercive technique [waterboarding] against alleged Sept. 11 plotter Khalid Sheik Mohammed, an admission the human rights experts say could one day have legal consequences for him. In his book, titled ‘Decision Points,’ Bush recounts being asked by the CIA whether it could proceed with waterboarding Mohammed, who Bush said was suspected of knowing about still-pending terrorist plots against the United States. Bush writes that his reply was ‘Damn right’ and states that he would make the same decision again to save lives, according to a someone close to Bush who has read the book. Bush previously had acknowledged endorsing what he described as the CIA’s ‘enhanced’ interrogation techniques–a term meant to encompass irregular, coercive methods–after Justice Department officials and other top aides assured him they were legal.”
– Jeffrey Smith, “In New Memoir, Bush Makes Clear He Approved Use of Waterboarding,” The Washington Post, Nov. 3, 2010