It appears Khalid Sheikh Mohammed exaggerated claims.

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed’s claims that he was responsible for dozens of successful, foiled and imagined attacks in the past 15 years relies on a loose definition of the word “responsible.” Officials say the 9/11 mastermind was key to some plots but a bit player in others.

The 31 on his list range from the stunningly vicious suicide hijackings of Sept. 11, 2001, to others that current and former government officials say were more talk than concrete plans, such as a plot to kill Jimmy Carter and other former U.S. presidents.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity, noting Mohammed’s activities are likely to be the subject of an upcoming military tribunal.

…

One official cautioned that many of Mohammed’s claims during interrogation were “white noise” — designed to send the U.S. on wild goose chases or to get him through the day’s interrogation session.

In the Defense Department transcript, Mohammed said his statement was not made under duress. But Mohammed and human rights advocates have alleged that he was tortured, and legal experts say that could taint all his statements.

“In light of the rambling nature of his statements, and the views of some that he is prone to exaggerate his importance, we cannot feel confident we know exactly the level of his involvement in various prior attacks,” said Joshua Dressler, a criminal law expert at Moritz College of Law at Ohio State University.

The CIA has denied it uses torture. “The agency’s terrorist interrogation program has been conducted lawfully, with great care and close review, producing vital information that has helped disrupt plots and save lives,” spokesman Paul Gimigliano said.

KATHERINE SHRADER, Associated Press Writer Thu Mar 15, 6:29 PM ET

I have no doubt that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed or KSM (as many MSM [main stream media] types have taken to calling him) is one bad dude. But based on both what I know of the “war on terror” and of the Bush madministrations exquisite PR timing, I new the screaming headlines were flat out wrong.

Why would BushCo release and hype the KSM transcripts at this juncture?

Could it have anything to do with the failed legislative attempt to pull troops from Iraq or to get toady Gonzales off the front page?