[Vision2020] President Obama's Remarks on Osama Bin Laden

[Tom Hansen]

Courtesy of the White House website at:

http://tinyurl.com/Remarks-on-Bin-Laden

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THE PRESIDENT:  Good evening.  Tonight, I can report to the American
people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation
that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist who’s
responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and
children.

It was nearly 10 years ago that a bright September day was darkened by the
worst attack on the American people in our history.  The images of 9/11
are seared into our national memory -- hijacked planes cutting through a
cloudless September sky; the Twin Towers collapsing to the ground; black
smoke billowing up from the Pentagon; the wreckage of Flight 93 in
Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the actions of heroic citizens saved even
more heartbreak and destruction.

And yet we know that the worst images are those that were unseen to the
world.  The empty seat at the dinner table.  Children who were forced to
grow up without their mother or their father.  Parents who would never
know the feeling of their child’s embrace.  Nearly 3,000 citizens taken
from us, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts.

On September 11, 2001, in our time of grief, the American people came
together.  We offered our neighbors a hand, and we offered the wounded our
blood.  We reaffirmed our ties to each other, and our love of community
and country.  On that day, no matter where we came from, what God we
prayed to, or what race or ethnicity we were, we were united as one
American family.

We were also united in our resolve to protect our nation and to bring
those who committed this vicious attack to justice.  We quickly learned
that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by al Qaeda -- an organization
headed by Osama bin Laden, which had openly declared war on the United
States and was committed to killing innocents in our country and around
the globe.  And so we went to war against al Qaeda to protect our
citizens, our friends, and our allies.

Over the last 10 years, thanks to the tireless and heroic work of our
military and our counterterrorism professionals, we’ve made great strides
in that effort.  We’ve disrupted terrorist attacks and strengthened our
homeland defense.  In Afghanistan, we removed the Taliban government,
which had given bin Laden and al Qaeda safe haven and support.  And around
the globe, we worked with our friends and allies to capture or kill scores
of al Qaeda terrorists, including several who were a part of the 9/11
plot.

Yet Osama bin Laden avoided capture and escaped across the Afghan border
into Pakistan.  Meanwhile, al Qaeda continued to operate from along that
border and operate through its affiliates across the world.

And so shortly after taking office, I directed Leon Panetta, the director
of the CIA, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority
of our war against al Qaeda, even as we continued our broader efforts to
disrupt, dismantle, and defeat his network.

Then, last August, after years of painstaking work by our intelligence
community, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden.  It was far from
certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground.  I met
repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more information
about the possibility that we had located bin Laden hiding within a
compound deep inside of Pakistan.  And finally, last week, I determined
that we had enough intelligence to take action, and authorized an
operation to get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice.

Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation
against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.  A small team of Americans
carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability.  No
Americans were harmed.  They took care to avoid civilian casualties. 
After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his
body.

For over two decades, bin Laden has been al Qaeda’s leader and symbol, and
has continued to plot attacks against our country and our friends and
allies.  The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to
date in our nation’s effort to defeat al Qaeda.

Yet his death does not mark the end of our effort.  There’s no doubt that
al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us.  We must –- and we
will -- remain vigilant at home and abroad.

As we do, we must also reaffirm that the United States is not –- and never
will be -– at war with Islam.  I’ve made clear, just as President Bush did
shortly after 9/11, that our war is not against Islam.  Bin Laden was not
a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims.  Indeed, al Qaeda has
slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, including our own.  So
his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human
dignity.

Over the years, I’ve repeatedly made clear that we would take action
within Pakistan if we knew where bin Laden was.  That is what we’ve done. 
But it’s important to note that our counterterrorism cooperation with
Pakistan helped lead us to bin Laden and the compound where he was hiding.
 Indeed, bin Laden had declared war against Pakistan as well, and ordered
attacks against the Pakistani people.

Tonight, I called President Zardari, and my team has also spoken with
their Pakistani counterparts.  They agree that this is a good and historic
day for both of our nations.  And going forward, it is essential that
Pakistan continue to join us in the fight against al Qaeda and its
affiliates.

The American people did not choose this fight.  It came to our shores, and
started with the senseless slaughter of our citizens.  After nearly 10
years of service, struggle, and sacrifice, we know well the costs of war. 
These efforts weigh on me every time I, as Commander-in-Chief, have to
sign a letter to a family that has lost a loved one, or look into the eyes
of a service member who’s been gravely wounded.

So Americans understand the costs of war.  Yet as a country, we will never
tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when our people
have been killed.  We will be relentless in defense of our citizens and
our friends and allies.  We will be true to the values that make us who we
are. And on nights like this one, we can say to those families who have
lost loved ones to al Qaeda’s terror:  Justice has been done.

Tonight, we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism
professionals who’ve worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome.  The
American people do not see their work, nor know their names.  But tonight,
they feel the satisfaction of their work and the result of their pursuit
of justice.

We give thanks for the men who carried out this operation, for they
exemplify the professionalism, patriotism, and unparalleled courage of
those who serve our country.  And they are part of a generation that has
borne the heaviest share of the burden since that September day.

Finally, let me say to the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 that we
have never forgotten your loss, nor wavered in our commitment to see that
we do whatever it takes to prevent another attack on our shores.

And tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on
9/11.  I know that it has, at times, frayed.  Yet today’s achievement is a
testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the
American people.

The cause of securing our country is not complete.  But tonight, we are
once again reminded that America can do whatever we set our mind to.  That
is the story of our history, whether it’s the pursuit of prosperity for
our people, or the struggle for equality for all our citizens; our
commitment to stand up for our values abroad, and our sacrifices to make
the world a safer place.

Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or
power, but because of who we are:  one nation, under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you.  May God bless you.  And may God bless the United States of
America.

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Perhaps after reflecting upon the horrors done by Bin Laden and how he
will never cause them again, we can turn the page and appreciate what
unites us.

Seeya round town, Moscow.

Tom Hansen
Moscow, Idaho

"The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
and the Realist adjusts his sails."

 - Unknown