אריק הולדר מועמד שר משפטים של אובאמה ארה"ב
Photo: Reuters
'Bin Laden killing was US self-defense'
US Attorney General Eric Holder goes before Senate Judiciary Committee, says assassination of al-Qdaeda leader lawful, act of national self-defense
The Obama administration on Wednesday forcefully defended the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden by US military forces as an act of national self defense and said that he made no attempt to surrender.
US Attorney General Eric Holder told the Senate Judiciary Committee that bin Laden had no intention of being captured by American forces which conducted the operation over the weekend in Pakistan.
Forging On
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It was lawful to target bin Laden because he was the enemy commander in the field and the operation was conducted in a way that was consistent with US laws and values, he said, adding that it was a "kill or capture mission."
"It was justified as an act of national self-defense," Holder said. "If he had surrendered, attempted to surrender, I think we should obviously have accepted that, but there was no indication that he wanted to do that and therefore his killing was appropriate," Holder said.
Holder also expressed serious concern about Americans' safety from possible revenge attacks for Osama bin Laden's death and expects the terrorist watch list will be expanded based on evidence collected in the al Qaida leader's home.
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