Africa | America | Asia | Australasia | Europe | India | Middle East | UK | US

PROFILE: Holder to lead US law enforcement, terror response

Posted : Tue, 02 Dec 2008 06:34:37 GMT
By : DPA
Category : US (World)
News Alerts by Email ( click here )
US World News | Home
Washington - Eric Holder is set to become the first African- American to head the US Justice Department, pledging to restore balance in an agency that came under heavy criticism in past years for its approach to the war against terrorism. Holder, 57, was named as the United States' next attorney general Monday by president-elect Barack Obama, who takes office January 20.

Holder will become the nation's top law enforcement official in the first Democratic-led administration since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington.

He brings experience as both a lawyer and judge to the Justice Department, whose reputation has suffered around the world as it oversaw a dramatic and controversial expansion of the country's domestic response to terrorism since 2001.

Holder served as deputy attorney general in former president Bill Clinton's administration and also as attorney general for a brief period under President George W Bush, pending the Senate's confirmation of John Ashcroft to the post.

The 2001 attacks prompted a massive overhaul of how the United States deals with domestic terror threats, including the creation of the Homeland Security Department and broad new powers to detain suspects and listen in on the conversations of private citizens without the need for a warrant.

In accepting the nomination Monday, Holder promised to balance the new security concerns with human rights and civil liberties.

"It is incumbent those of us who lead the department to ensure not only that the nation is safe but also that our laws and traditions are respected. There is not a tension between those two," he said.

Holder's first priority will likely be the closure of the US detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, which has become a lightning rod for criticism of the US' management of the global war against terrorism.

Both Obama and his Republican rival John McCain promised to close the facility during the presidential campaign. But that leaves Holder with the unenviable task of finding a new home for more than 250 inmates still being held.

Only two detainees have been convicted of a crime under the controversial military commissions set up by the Bush administration. Obama has been critical of the treatment of detainees but provided few details on how he would prosecute the remaining suspects. Media reports suggest he hopes to try many of them in US civilian courts.

About 60 of the remaining inmates have already been cleared for release by the Pentagon, but fears of political reprisals in their home countries have made it difficult for President George W Bush's administration to find them new homes.

Holder is not without controversy. In 2001 his career was nearly derailed over his role in the pardon of Marc Rich, a fugitive financier whose former wife had contributed to Democratic campaign coffers, on the last day of Clinton's presidency.

Copyright DPA

Share/Save/Bookmark

Article : PROFILE: Holder to lead US law enforcement, terror response
Print this article
Email this article

Stay Updated
News gadget on your Google homepage
Subscribe to a news feed in Google Reader


Related News

Obama's first presidential pardon: Turkey named Courage to be spared
Washington - US President Barack Obama doled out the first pardon of his tenure on Wednesday, sparing a turkey from Thanksgiving Day dinner plates in a long-standing White House tradition. Courage, you are hereby pardoned, Obama said in a brief, al...

Obama to travel to Copenhagen climate summit - 2nd Update
Washington - US President Barack Obama will be in Copenhagen during the early stages of a major UN summit on climate change, the White House said Wednesday. The Obama administration also proposed cutting its domestic emissions 17 per cent below 2005 ...

Obama to travel to Copenhagen climate summit - Update
Washington - US President Barack Obama will be in Copenhagen during the early stages of a major UN summit on climate change, the White House said Wednesday. The Obama administration also proposed cutting its domestic emissions 17 per cent below 2005 ...

Obama to travel to Copenhagen climate summit
Washington - US President Barack Obama will be in Copenhagen during the early stages of a major UN summit on climate change, Bloomberg News reported Wednesday, citing an administration official. Obama will be in Copenhagen on December 9, the day befo...

Heavy-hearted Wizards win one in honour of owner - Summary
Los Angeles - The Washington Wizards lost their leader on Tuesday but remembered him the best way possible - with a victory. Antawn Jamison had 32 points with 14 rebounds, and the heavy-hearted Wizards held off the Philadelphia 76ers for an emotional...

Prawn curry, potato dumplings on menu for Obama-Singh dinner
Washington - Guests at US President Barack Obama's first state dinner Tuesday night in honour of Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh were to be treated to a meal that blended both Indian and American elements, flavoured with herbs from the White Hou...

Dobbs for president? Firebrand TV anchor weighs 2012 bid - Summary
Washington - Lou Dobbs, the controversial former news anchor of US broadcaster CNN, is mulling a bid for the White House in 2012. The news from Dobbs, who has long been an intensely partisan figure in the US because of his far-right views on immigrat...

Have your Say
Name
Email
Subject
Your Comment

Enter Verification code
 
  

 

 

More US (World) News click here
Follow The Earth Times
Subscribe to RSS Follow Earth Times on TwitterNews by email
Share/Save/Bookmark

 
 



 
Subscribe to free Earthtimes
News Alerts by Email Click here
For RSS Feeds Click here
or Create your own RSS

Add to Google Toolbar
Breaking News
Press Releases

 


The Earth Times
News Category

© 2009 www.earthtimes.org, The Earth Times, All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy
Earth Times accept no responsibility or liability either directly or indirectly for views or opinions expressed in articles or comments.