STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL ALBERTO R. GONZALES ON THE RULING OF THE U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE D.C. CIRCUIT IN HAMDAN V. RUMSFELD:

The following press release was published by the US Department of Justice on July 15, 2005. It is reproduced in full below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRIDAY, JULY 15, 2005 WWW.USDOJ.GOV AG (202) 514-2007 TDD (202) 514-1888 “The Department of Justice is pleased with today’s ruling affirming that the President has the authority to establish military commissions to try and punish enemy combatants who have violated the laws of war. The court also held that the Geneva Conventions do not apply to members or affiliates of al Qaeda, and thus recognized the difference between terrorists and those who legitimately wage war. The President’s authority under the laws of our Nation to try enemy combatants is a vital part of the global war on terror, and today’s decision reaffirms this critical authority.” 05-375

Source: US Department of Justice