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Americans
celebrating after the death of Osama bin Laden in front of The White House.
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Delivered
at 11:35pm EDT from the East Room of the White
House.
President Obama
announces the death of Al Qaida terrorist organization leader Osama bin Laden
(31.68
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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 Nine-Eleven 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
Nine-Eleven 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 ten 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 Nine-Eleven 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 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 Nine-Eleven,
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 ten 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.
END
11:44 P.M. EDT
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