Lawmakers react to Osama Bin Laden’s Death
Image courtesy Federal Bureau of InvestigationU.S. leaders are reacting to the President’s announcement that Osama bin Laden’s dead.
The Office of President George W. Bush has released the following statement:
“President Obama called to inform me that American forces killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of the al Qaeda network that attacked America on September 11, 2001. I congratulated him and the men and women of our military and intelligence communities who devoted their lives to this mission. They have our everlasting gratitude. This momentous achievement marks a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world, and for all those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001. The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done.”
In a statement on Facebook, Republican U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas credited both Presidents George W. Bush and Obama for their determination on the mission to take down the al-Qaeda leader. Senator Hutchison said, “We must continue to dismantle this and other terrorist networks that attempt to destroy freedom and human rights throughout the world.”
Fort Hood has increased security at its gates following the President’s announcement that al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is dead. A Fort Hood spokesman told KUT the Department of Defense has told all U.S. military installations to be on heightened alert.
Congressman Michael McCaul, R-Texas, and Chairman of the Homeland Security Oversight, Investigations and Management Subcommittee had this to say about Bin Laden’s death:
“Finally the killer of nearly 3,000 innocent people on 9/11 has been held accountable. This success would not have been possible without the resolve and courage of our military and the commitment to seeing justice served by both Presidents Bush and Obama. It should send a resounding message to our enemies that the United States will not waiver in the defense of freedom and security. While this is a historic day, Osama bin Laden will no doubt become immortalized in the eyes of al Qaeda and other radical Islamist groups that have continued to plot against us. Because of this I am concerned that the threat to the United States and to our presence overseas may escalate in the near term. Although we have not experienced mass loss of life in nearly 10 years, the United States has endured more than two dozen terror plots over just the past two years inspired by radicals who have followed in bin Laden’s footsteps. Americans must remain vigilant. We must not ignore the threat that still exists.”
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement regarding the death of Osama bin Laden:
“In the aftermath of 9/11, President Bush promised a fearful, grieving nation that those individuals responsible for this atrocity would be brought to justice. Now, nearly a decade after those horrific attacks, President Obama informs us that justice has finally been served. Let this serve as a grave reminder to all those who wish to do our nation harm: If you murder Americans, you will be hunted, you will be found and you will be brought to justice. I commend the military and intelligence professionals whose tremendous efforts ended the reign of this terrorist mastermind. While this will never bring their loved ones back, it is my hope that this will somehow ease the pain of the families of those who were lost on September 11th, 2001.”
Read below to see the conversation surrounding Bin Laden’s death on Twitter. If you have a free Twitter account, you can join the conversation.
