Department of Justice Seal Department of Justice
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
TUESDAY, MARCH 11, 2002
WWW.USDOJ.GOV
AG
(202) 514-2008
TDD (202) 514-1888

STATEMENT OF ATTORNEY GENERAL JOHN ASHCROFT
REGARDING THE D.C. CIRCUIT COURT CASE


"Today's decision is an important victory in the war on terrorism. The Justice Department is pleased with the D.C. Circuit Court decision dismissing the challenge to the legality of the detention of aliens at Guantanamo. In times of war, the President must be able to protect our nation from enemies who seek to harm innocent Americans. As the D.C. Circuit recognized, the Supreme Court has held that this nation's enemies may not enlist America's courts to 'divert... efforts and attention from the military offensive abroad to the legal defensive at home.'"

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