Was killing of bin Laden legal?

Was the killing of Osama bin Laden legal under international law?

The administration says yes, absolutely. Experts are unsure.

Attorney General Eric Holder told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday that the U.S. raid on bin Laden's compound was lawful "as an act of national self-defense."

Bin Laden "was the head of al Qaeda, an organization that had conducted the attacks of September the 11th," Holder said. "It's lawful to target an enemy commander in the field."

The raid "was conducted in a manner fully consistent with the laws of war," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters. Carney declined to offer specifics, but said "there is simply no question that this operation was lawful. ... (Bin Laden) had continued to plot attacks against the United States."

Source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_allpolitics/~3/9Z_0qiyGijo/index.html

hillary clinton george w bush nancy pelosi harry reid john mccain

Florida Budget Woes Mean Environmental Cuts

Florida is cutting spending on the environment to help close a $4 billion budget shortfall. It's slashed spending on Everglades restoration and eliminated the budget for other environmental programs. Conservation groups fear the state is rolling back the clock on protections that used to enjoy bipartisan support.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/05/06/135963420/florida-budget-woes-mean-environmental-cuts?ft=1&f=1014

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Afghan war is not another Vietnam

For most people, war is a headline in a newspaper or a video on television. But when you live in this city, it's a fact of life.

Up the road at Camp Pendleton, you'll find the members of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, a group of warriors that attracts trouble the way honey attracts bears.

The battalion -- which has a proud history that includes some of the most storied battles the Marine Corps has ever fought, including Guadalcanal in World War II -- has paid an especially high price for its valiant service in Afghanistan. The battalion tends to draw some of the toughest fights. And, according to Defense Security Robert Gates, it suffered more casualties than any other battalion in the 10-year history of the war.

Source: http://rss.cnn.com/~r/rss/cnn_allpolitics/~3/8ve7Hnrbub0/index.html

hillary clinton george w bush nancy pelosi harry reid john mccain

Workers Enter Japan Nuclear Reactor Building

This is the first time workers at Japan's crippled nuclear power plant have been inside the reactor building at Unit 1 in about two months. They're connecting ventilation equipment in hopes that it'll absorb the radiation inside. The operation should take up to five days.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/05/05/136009862/workers-enter-japan-nuclear-reactor-building?ft=1&f=1007

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On Ill.-Mo. Border, Mississippi River Causes Dilemma

Where the southern tip of Illinois meets Missouri, residents are bracing for serious flooding. The flood that seems imminent would be man-made. The Army Corps of Engineers is preparing to blast open a hole in a levee in order to relieve pressure on a larger flood control system. But the levee breach would cause flood problems of its own elsewhere. Michele Norris talks with Jacob McCleland of member station KRCU.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/05/02/135930284/on-ill-mo-border-mississippi-river-causes-dilemma?ft=1&f=1007

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'Beauty Shop': Work In War Zones And Life With Kids

The "Beauty Shop" ladies discuss Lara Logan's 60 Minutes interview about her sexual assault in Egypt, and what Osama bin Laden's death means for the future of terrorism. And as Mother's Day approaches, the ladies reveal how they balance work and life, especially when their jobs take them overseas and into war zones. Host Michel Martin speaks with Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, author of The Dressmaker of Khair Khana; Mona Eltahawy, columnist on Arab and Muslim issues; Jamie Tarabay, former NPR Baghdad bureau chief; and Hannah Allam, Cairo bureau chief for McClatchy Newspapers.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/05/06/136055331/beauty-shop-work-in-war-zones-and-life-with-kids?ft=1&f=1014

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Foreign Policy: The Jack Bauer Of Law Professors

With the death of Osama bin Laden, President Obama accomplished the one goal that his predecessor never could ? and the political impact is profound. He no longer has to prove his toughness on the world stage, says James Traub of Foreign Policy. This opens up new opportunities for the president.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2011/05/06/136048976/foreign-policy-the-jack-bauer-of-law-professors?ft=1&f=1057

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