STATEMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ON THE FOURTH CIRCUIT DECISION IN THE YASER HAMDI CASE

The following press release was published by the US Department of Justice on Jan. 8, 2003. It is reproduced in full below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2003 WWW.USDOJ.GOV AG 202-514-2007 TDD(202)514-1888 "I applaud today's decision which reaffirms the President's authority to capture and detain individuals, such as Hamdi, who join our enemies on the battlefield to fight against America and its allies. Today's ruling is an important victory for the President's ability to protect the American people in times of war. Preserving the President's authority is crucial to protect our nation from the unprincipled, unconventional, and savage enemy we face. Detention of enemy combatants prevents them from rejoining the enemy and continuing to fight against America and its allies, and has long been upheld by our nation's courts, regardless of the citizenship of the enemy combatant." Hamdi Case Decision 03-004

Source: US Department of Justice