President Barack Obama
Remarks on
Osama bin Laden
East Room
May 1, 2011
[White House Transcript]
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.