Barack Obama Forty-Fourth President
(2009 to 2017)
The Death of Osama bin Laden
The White House /
East Room May 1, 2011 at 11:35 P.M. EDT
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.
