The terror attack on the United States on 9/11 was a crucial turning point in the nation’s security activities and organization. The extent and the damages done during this attack were a wake-up call of the need to have better policies and military readiness to fight the enemy immediately after the attack. The case of the US invasion and the killing of Osama Bin Laden was within the legal precepts and was done with the transparency that is required and with fewer casualties. I support the move of the United States and the Obama administration in conducting this and killing the terrorists in their hiding places. However, there have been controversies from diverse media sources and scholars who have tried to question the powers of a nation over another land and whether a nation’s legal rights to protect its boundaries can move beyond its regions and intrude into other countries’ borders. However, the controversy is not adequately supported by international law that seems to support Obama’s move in a big manner. Moving forward the application of international law needs to be made clear and more accessible to most nations in order to make sure every operation and military action is within the legal limits (Savell, 2021). In this paper, I support the notion that the United States had the Legal Authority and Justification in Operation Geronimo: President Obama’s Decision to Target Osama Bin Laden.
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Operation Geronimo was legal with regard to the self-defense paradigm. The attack in Pakistan by the US military to search and kill Osama Bin Laden was morally deserving due to the heinous acts committed by the said individual in the bombing of the US in the 9/11 attack (Govern, 2012). According to the UN charter, there is an allowance for self-defense when territorial integrity is in question. Under section 51 of the UN Charter, some actions are reasonably ideal and proportionate in response to armed violence. The self-defense paradigm works in several respects including in the case of direct participants in armed attacks, civilians taking part in direct hostilities, and when the civilians who are unprivileged take part in continuous combat. These were important aspects that the US military took into consideration during their attacks and were perfectly within the law (Savell, 2021).
The operation was legal and within the laws with regard to permissible force. This is because it was only targeting a single individual who was thought to be a leader of a terrorist group Al-Qaieda that was causing terror within US borders (Jordan, 2011). The operation was carried out by Navy special forces which considered many options before the day of this attack. For instance, the operation was meant to have as minimal casualties as possible. This is the reason the idea of bombing the entire issue was refuted and the raid was seen as the most suitable. The outcomes of the operation were a true reflection of the influence of Osama in the attack on different countries. This is because, after his death the terror attacks that had been on the rise across the world reduced considerably (Govern, 2012) Legal Authority and Justification in Operation Geronimo: President Obama’s Decision to Target Osama Bin Laden.
The operation was legal since Obama was bound by US laws to duly protect its citizens from external attack. Thus, when attacking the AL-Qaeda leader the president of the United States was abiding by the constitution in reducing the external terrors and triggers to attacks. Also, the killing of Osama was within the law since the after and calls for Pakistan to present the criminal was not forthcoming (Savell, 2021). This triggered the United States to make an effort and find this perpetrator using their forces. Also, the human rights clause was not able to protect Osama since he was in hiding and was not ready to come out and present himself before the courts for defense (Wallace, 2012). Thus, the act of hiding in such isolated areas showed that he was a terrorist and able to cause more harm if not controlled. Congress had also given President Bush and Obama the powers to execute their military defense against the enemy but with limitations and using permissible measures (Jordan, 2011).
The invasion of Pakistan and the Al-Qaeda group leader Osama Bin Laden during Operation Geronimo was within the United States and the international laws. The extent of the international laws under the UN Charter article 51 calls for nations to execute self-defense when attacked. This was the case of the US and the Obama administration who wanted to destroy the enemy that was causing terror within the US borders. In addition, the operation was considered using permissible measures and the limitations that are necessary with regard to Congress. The mission was also crucial since it achieved its mission with the elimination of Osama and there was no destruction of property or mass killings. Therefore, the use of the navy seal group was an important aspect that demonstrates the US’s prowess in military operation and the ability to fall within the law even when carrying out sensitive international duties.
References
Govern, Kevin. (2012). Operation Neptune Spear: Was Killing Bin Laden a Legitimate Military Objective? (Chapter 13). 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199646470.003.0014.
Jordan J. Paust, (2011). Permissible Self-Defense Targeting and the Death of Bin Laden, 39 Denv. J. Int’l L. & Pol’y 569. https://digitalcommons.du.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1176&context=djilp
Savell. S. (2021). The 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force: A Comprehensive Look at Where and How it Has Been Used. https://watson.brown.edu/costsofwar/files/cow/imce/papers/2021/Costs%20of%20War_2001%20AUMF.pdf
Wallace. D. (2012). Operation Neptune’s Spear: The Lawful Killing of Osama Bin Laden. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/israel-law-review/article/abs/operation-neptunes-spear-the-lawful-killing-of-osama-bin-laden/EB8023A47D4B6E0D8DEC2E9AAEA316C8 Legal Authority and Justification in Operation Geronimo: President Obama’s Decision to Target Osama Bin Laden
