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.
