Author: Lalit K Jha
Publication: The Pioneer
Date: May 6, 2011
URL: http://www.dailypioneer.com/336616/Osama-would-have-been-taken-alive-if-he-had-surrendered-US.html
Elite US commandos, who killed Al Qaeda chief
Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, would have taken him alive if he had surrendered,
the White House has said, justifying the action to gun him down as "entirely
appropriate."
"If Osama bin Laden had surrendered the
US could have brought him into custody safely...," White House Press
Secretary Jay Carney told reporters.
"But he was brought to justice on Monday.
I think it's entirely appropriate, given the circumstances, that he was brought
to justice in the way he was. The professionals on the ground put themselves
at great risk and accomplished their mission," he said.
The American team "had the authority
to kill Osama bin Laden unless he offered to surrender," he said.
Asked about Pakistan's claim that the raid
was unlawful, Carney asserted, "The raid was entirely lawful."
