In accordance with domestic and international law, authorities have priorities of protecting the state and citizens against any potential threats. Among such instances when efforts had to be made in order to protect the nations was Operation Geronimo. All levels of the United States government have supported the classification of the US’s campaign against terrorist groups like Al Qaeda as a military war since September 11, 2001 (Bergen, 2021). After media coverage of the events that led to bin Laden’s execution, several fundamental issues have emerged, with the question of whether targeted assassinations can be distinguished in any meaningful way and have legal authority. However, when considering the issues of citizen safety, multiple terrorist threats, and high risks of further attacks by Al Qaeda, it can be indeed claimed that President Barack Obama had the legal authority to order Operation Geronimo.
Operation Geronimo
Al Qaeda, the group responsible for the attacks on September 11, was led by Bin Laden, and it was perceived that an enemy leader on the field might be attacked. When reviewing the legal aspect of Osama bin Laden’s assassination, it is necessary to consider the events of September 9, 2001, which was the pivotal moment for policies to combat terrorism. Despite the lack of formal recognition of targeted killing, media attention and ensuing debate within the legal industry did start to mold the legal opinions backing the new regulation and aligning it with existing rules. Operation Geronimo was a special mission that involved locating and capturing Osama bin Laden (Bergen, 2021). President Obama directed the preparation for the operation, and he gave the U.S. Navy Special Warfare Development Group, commonly known as SEAL Team Six, the green light after consulting with his advisors (Bergen, 2021). The SEALs practiced for their operation at mock facilities constructed in North Carolina and Nevada (Bergen, 2021). The raid was officially approved by President Obama and took place on May 1, 2011 (Lahoud, 2022). For doing so, the president had the legal authority based on previous policies and regulations.
Domestic Law and International Law
Targeted executions by state agents are permissible under U.S. domestic law in certain situations. Targeted killing, as it is now used, can be carried out in forms that are compliant with standards of legitimacy, ethics, and the broad restrictions of war theory (Lahoud, 2022). The authority of the president to order Operation Geronimo can be explained through previous policies. In the beginning, Osama bin Laden was seen as a low-priority concern up until 1998 (Banka & Quinn, 2018). After the attacks on the American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, which resulted in hundreds of deaths, this evaluation was revised in 1998 (Banka & Quinn, 2018). A presidential determination allowing covert operations to capture bin Laden and execute him if he resisted was issued by President Bill Clinton (Banka & Quinn, 2018). The expansive jurisdiction of the Authorization for the Use of Military Force served as the cornerstone of the president’s legal argument (Banka & Quinn, 2018). Therefore, the previous aim to determine the location and execute Osama bin Laden gave Barack Obama the authority to give the order for Operation Geronimo. The main goal here was the protection of American citizens from following terrorist attacks.
Criminal Resistance
Moreover, the operation had a thorough legal assessment and was meticulously organized in accordance with American law, based on rules concerning executing a criminal when resisting. Al Qaeda has assaulted the United States and remains to be an immediate threat to the country under international law, and it is the responsibility of the authorities to capture any criminal associated with the terrorist activity (Lahoud, 2022). In accordance with its absolute right to national self-defense under international norms, the United States could employ action against Al Qaeda. Unlike most security actions, which are managed and governed by the Defense Department, this one was carried out in accordance with the CIA’s lawful power as set down in federal law (Lahoud, 2022). Bin Laden was a wanted international terrorist who had escaped all capture efforts (Bergen, 2021). Moreover, during the last efforts to try to capture bin Laden, the terrorist resisted and did not indicate a willingness to cooperate and surrender.
Conclusion
Hence, it can be argued that President Barack Obama had the legal right to authorize Operation Geronimo when taking into account concerns about public safety, numerous terrorist threats, and the strong likelihood of more Al Qaeda strikes. In some circumstances, targeted executions by state agents are permitted by domestic law in the United States. President Obama had the power to launch Operation Geronimo due to policies aimed at authorizing Osama bin Laden’s execution for previous attacks. The media coverage additionally changed the opinions of the public regarding such measures. Here, safeguarding American civilians from ensuing terrorist strikes was the major objective. The operation was also carefully planned in accordance with American law, based on guidelines for killing a criminal who is resisting, and it had a complete legal analysis. The terrorist resisted during the final attempts to arrest bin Laden and showed no sign of being prepared to cooperate or surrender.
References
Banka, A., & Quinn, A. (2018). Killing norms softly: US targeted killing, quasi-secrecy and the assassination ban. Security Studies, 27(4), 665-703. Web.
Bergen, P. L. (2021). The rise and fall of Osama Bin Laden. Simon and Schuster.
Lahoud, N. (2022). The Bin Laden papers: How the Abbottabad raid revealed the truth about Al-Qaeda, its leader and his family. Yale University Press.