U.S. to Justify Killing American Terrorists

Attorney General Eric Holder is expected to give the most detailed explanation yet of the Obama administration’s rational for killing U.S. citizens abroad. Critics have demanded a more thorough explanation since last year's killing of the New Mexico–born Anwar al-Awlaki, who was suspected of working with al Qaeda. In Awlaki’s killing, the administration relied on a classified opinion written by the Justice Department’s legal counsel, but has refused to release the document. Sources tell The Washington Post that Holder will argue that a 2001 congressional authorization of the use of military force also justified the government to kill American terrorists abroad. Newsweek’s Daniel Klaidman first reported on the speech in January.