Operation Geronimo Research Paper

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Pages: 5

Legal Authority of Operation Geronimo Operation Geronimo is one of the most highly debated military operations in modern history, with many questioning or defending the legal authority of President Obama to launch such an operation. With all the information on the internet it is easy to see how this operation could be the topic of debate; however, President Obama had complete legal authority to approve the execution of Operation Geronimo and this essay will explain why. In this essay, you will learn that President Obama was justified in the execution of Operation Geronimo based on the three following principles. The first is the four core legal principles derived from the laws of war; the second is the administration’s legal justification solidified …show more content…
“On Sunday, May 1st, an elite unit of U.S. Navy SEALs carried out a raid on a fortified home in Abbottabad, Pakistan, during which Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed by two American bullets.” (Pezzi, 2011). Operation Geronimo (official name Operation Neptune Spear) was a military operation that, as said above, took the life of Osama bin Laden. The operation took place on Pakistani soil and followed the four core principles of the laws of war. These core principles are outlined as military necessity, unnecessary suffering, proportionality, and lastly distinction (identification between threats and non-threats). Of these four listed principles, the one to pay the most attention to is the principle of proportionality. “Under the law of war, the balancing of military necessity in relation to collateral damage is known as the principle of proportionality.” (JP 3-0, chapter 3 p. 36). As outlined here in Joint Publication 3-0 (Joint Operations), launching a military raid was the most effective solution to ensure the minimalization of civilian casualties and prevent unnecessary loss of