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US Attorney General: Unlikely US Can Capture Bin Laden Alive

   VOA News 14 April 2010

   The  head  of  the  U.S. Justice Department is defending his assertion
   that terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden will not be captured alive.

   U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder (undated photo)

USDOJ

   U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder (undated photo)

   U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said Wednesday that Washington wants
   to  capture  the  al-Qaida  leader  in  order to question him and gain
   valuable  intelligence.   But he defended comments he made last month
   that bin Laden likely would be killed, either by American forces or by
   his own people.
   Holder   said  his  assessment  is  based  on  information  that  U.S.
   intelligence  officials have gathered about the instructions bin Laden
   has given to his close associates for him to avoid capture.
   Holder  spoke  during  a  scheduled  appearance before the U.S. Senate
   Judiciary Committee.
   Several  lawmakers  also  criticized Holder for wanting to try alleged
   terrorists  like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the
   September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, in civilian courts. Â
   The committee's ranking Republican, Senator Jeff Sessions, told Holder
   it  is  unrealistic  to  think  terrorists  can be treated the same as
   common criminals.  He advocated trying alleged terrorists in military
   commissions.
   Holder said no final decision has been made on where to hold the trial
   for  the  alleged  September  11  mastermind.   He  said  the Justice
   Department's  only goal is to find the best forum to prosecute alleged
   terrorists in order to ensure the safety of the American people.
   Holder  previously  said  officials  want  to try Mohammed in New York
   City, but top city officials have since reversed their support of that
   decision.
   Holder  also  responded  to  criticism of the way the U.S. handled the
   suspect  in  an  attempted bombing of a U.S.-bound flight in December,
   and   that   authorities   read   him   his   rights  under  the  U.S.
   Constitution.  Holder said the treatment of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab
   has yielded valuable intelligence.
   Lawmakers  also questioned Holder about the status of detainees at the
   U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
   Holder  said  the  U.S. is still committed to shutting down the prison
   because  it  serves  as  a recruiting tool for people who wish to harm
   America.   However,  he  said the U.S. cannot move forward with those
   plans until it acquires an alternate facility for prisoners who cannot
   be transferred, tried or rehabilitated.
   Officials have been looking at a facility in the central U.S. state of
   Illinois,  but  Holder  said  his department cannot acquire it without
   approval from lawmakers.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP.

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