President Barack Obama hoped to capture bin Laden, new book says

GETTY: PRESIDENT OBAMA AT DNC 120906

President Barack Obama speaks on stage as he accepts the nomination for president during the final day of the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on September 6, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Photographer: Alex Wong/Getty Images

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Posted: 10/03/2012

WASHINGTON - A new book says President Barack Obama hoped to put Osama bin Laden on trial if he had surrendered during a U.S. raid.

In a book on the raid that killed bin Laden, author Mark Bowden quotes Obama as saying he thought he could make a strong political argument for giving bin Laden the full rights of a criminal defendant, to show U.S. justice applies even to him. In the book, purchased by The Associated Press, Bowden says Obama said he expected the terror leader to go down fighting.

"The Finish" is due out Oct. 16.

Obama's remarks are the first time he's discussed putting the terrorist on trial.

U.S. officials have said the raiders were ordered to capture bin Laden if he surrendered, or kill if he threatened them.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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