Thompson Floor Statement on Death of Osama bin Laden
(WASHINGTON) – Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, delivered the following prepared statement before the House of Representatives congratulating the President and the military and intelligence communities on the death of Osama bin Laden:
I rise today very proud to support Senate Resolution 159, commending President Obama and the brave men and women who brought the American people justice for the heinous acts of 9/11. This past weekend, nearly ten years after the 9/11 attacks, the United States finally killed Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind of the attacks and the leader of Al Qaeda.
This is an extremely strategic and symbolic victory for the United States and the world, and it could not have been done without the incredible leadership of President Obama and the tireless efforts of his Administration. I would like to commend the President and his National Security Team for making an extremely difficult decision, in order to bring some sense of justice to the families of all those who lost loved ones on September 11th.
We must also recognize the sacrifices of the brave men and women of the military and intelligence communities who are on the front lines of this fight. With every detail that is released, we learn more about the courageous acts of the Navy SEALS and how their heroism brought down the most wanted terrorist in the world. These unnamed heroes forever changed the course history and America thanks you. I would also like to thank the unwavering efforts of the intelligence community, led by the Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper and CIA Director, Leon Panetta.
Decades of hard work and perseverance have finally paid off for the thousands of individuals who make up our intelligence community and they deserve our nation's thanks. While so many people deserve recognition for their dedication and sacrifices over the last ten years, the fight against terrorism worldwide continues and we will remain steadfast in this effort. As Ranking Member on the Committee on Homeland Security, I have had the pleasure to meet many of the dedicated individuals that secure our country and I have no doubt they will continue the amazing work the world witnessed this weekend.
Because no matter how long it takes, those who do us harm will be brought to justice. Again, I'd like to commend the President for his courage and all the brave men and women that put their lives on the line for our security, and thank them for the sacrifices they make for all of us here at home.
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