Statement on the death of Osama bin Laden
Monday, May 02, 2011
U.S. Rep. Steven C. LaTourette (R-OH) today issued the following
statement about the successful May 1, 2011, military raid in
Pakistan that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden:
"This is something Americans have waited nearly a decade for,
and I offer the highest praise to our brave military, our
intelligence community and President Barack Obama, who authorized
this operation. This was a gutsy and risky move to enter the
highly fortified compound where Osama bin Laden was holed up, and
the execution of this raid by our military's elite was precise and
heroic.
I congratulate President Obama for insisting on a ground
operation, as opposed to the use of a drone, and very much
appreciated his personal call to former President Bush, who devoted
so much effort to finding Osama bin Laden. While justice was
a long time coming, this top-secret effort results in justice being
served.
Americans should be immensely proud of our military for taking
out the world's most heinous terrorist, who is responsible for the
death of thousands of innocent men, women and children and scarred
the USA so horribly on a sunny morning on September 11, 2011.
The success of this raid is even more significant as no brave
Americans died while carrying out this secretive mission.
The death of Osama bin Laden does not erase the grief or
devastation of the families and friends of those who perished in
New York City and the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and in a
field near Shanksville, PA. They remain in our prayers, as do the
courageous first responders who lost their lives and those who
suffered grave harm trying to rescue the innocent who were attacked
on that fateful day.
While the killing of Osama bin Laden has drawn cheers from many
Americans, we cannot be lulled into a false sense of security that
we have seen the last of al Qaeda or others who want to do us
harm. Americans deserve the sense of relief we feel today,
but we must remain vigilant."