In light of the U.S. killing of Osama bin Laden, below is a collection of comments from some of the Members of The Ripon Society’s Honorary Congressional Advisory Board had to say about this momentous event. Their comments are below:
“The death of Osama Bin Laden marks the culmination of the greatest manhunt ever undertaken by American forces. This is a major development in our fight against terrorism and proves our resolve to hold accountable those who harm American citizens, but we must remain vigilant and not lose focus on the overall mission and our goal of eradicating terrorist threats. There still remains a dire threat posed by Bin Laden’s followers and the seeds of hate he planted across the globe, and while we are immensely grateful for this victory, our work is far from over.”
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (VA-7)
“Families who lost loved ones at the hands of Bin Laden and his terrorist organization have grieved for far too long and this sends a signal that America will not tolerate terrorism in any form. Many Virginians were directly affected by the devastating attacks on the Pentagon on September 11th and the bombing of the USS Cole homeported in Norfolk and those lost will never be forgotten. The men and women of our armed forces and intelligence community have fought valiantly for the last decade and this is a major victory and testament to their dedication. I commend President Obama who has followed the vigilance of President Bush in bringing Bin Laden to justice. While this is no doubt a major event in our battle against terrorism, we will not relent in our fight against terror and our efforts to keep America safe and secure.”
Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (WV-2)
“We owe a great debt of gratitude to members of the U.S. Armed Services and U.S. Intelligence Agencies for their selfless service in pursuit of peace and protection. The killing of Osama Bin Laden, the terrorist mastermind responsible for the death of thousands of innocent Americans, is a tremendous achievement in counterterrorism, and more importantly, a great reminder that freedom will always overcome terror, and good over evil.”
“The director of the National Counterterrorism Center informed me tonight that Osama bin Laden was killed in a U.S. operation. This welcome news is a credit to our intelligence efforts and brings to justice the architect of the attacks on our country that killed nearly 3,000 people on September 11, 2001.”
Congresswoman Kay Granger (TX-12)
“Tonight is a night to remember those who gave their lives on 9-11 and those who have fought the War on Terror for the past ten years. The death of Bin Laden is the result of a decade of work by our military. This is a message to friend and foe alike: we will never allow terrorists like Bin Laden to escape justice. Much work remains to be done. Al Qaeda is still alive and the Taliban just announced its spring offensive. And while the death of Bin Laden is a great victory for America, for the world and for the future, the fight to rid the world of terror must and will go on.”
Congressman Darrell Issa (CA-49)
“Osama Bin Laden’s death at the hands of American forces is a fitting end to the world’s most notorious terrorist. While we celebrate this accomplishment and express our thanks for the efforts of our military, intelligence agencies, diplomatic corps, and allies we must remain mindful that other dangerous terrorists still remain at large. The killing of Bin Laden should serve as a reminder that those who engage in terrorism should not expect to meet justice at a day in court, but rather at any second of any night wherever they may try to hide. It is also a reminder of tragic losses caused by terrorism and an important time to keep victims and others who have suffered in our prayers.”
House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy (CA-22)
“The terrorist leader behind the September 11th attacks on American soil, Osama Bin Laden, represented a threat not only to our nation, but to those seeking freedom and democracy around the world. Our brave troops have done a tremendous job in bringing an end to this symbol of hatred and intolerance, never wavering in their commitment to protect our nation. I join the President and all Americans in commending the members of our armed forces and intelligence community for the sacrifices they’ve made, and continue to make, on behalf of our security and freedom.”
“The death of bin Laden is a triumph for the U.S. military and intelligence services. I congratulate them and President Obama for dealing with this mass murderer after locating him near Pakistan’s capital, under the nose of Pakistan’s army.”
Congressman Denny Rehberg (MT-AL)
“This welcome news is bigger than any single terrorist or architect of evil – it is about the ultimate futility of the stand he took against our freedom. In the ten years after his cowardly attacks, bin Laden lived as a fugitive, even hiding in caves. But he could not hide from the long arm of justice. Jan and I are so proud of our men and women serving our great country and we honor those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in keeping America safe.”
“As a former chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I want to echo President Obama’s comments tonight. Our Intelligence Community and our military personnel deserve our gratitude for their tireless efforts to never stop looking for Osama bin Laden, the murderous mastermind of September 11. They put their lives on the line for our country every day, and today, all of America can be proud of their commitment and dedication. We will probably never be able to personally thank all who were responsible for ending the reign of terror of bin Laden, but we can celebrate their success and offer our appreciation for the work they do every day to keep America safe.”
“Tonight marks an historic and seminal moment for our nation and the world as it has been confirmed that Osama bin Laden — who was responsible for the single deadliest attack on American soil — is dead. We are all a different people in America as a result of the horrific events of September 11, 2001, that are etched upon the landscape of our consciousness for all time. Out of the rubble on September 11th rose our resolve, out of despair grew our determination, and out of the hate that was perpetrated upon us proudly stood our humanity. We illustrated in word and deed that the iconic American spirit is stronger and more permanent than any pain or suffering that can be inflicted upon us. If the likes of Osama bin Laden laid bare the unimaginable cruelties of which humankind is capable, it also imbued forever within our minds the heights to which the human spirit can rise – even and especially in the face of mortality.”
Congressman Mac Thornberry (TX-13)
“While the death of Osama bin Laden does not remove the threat of terrorism, it is an important milestone. The credit for this success belongs primarily to the intelligence professionals who have hunted for him for years, following up lead after lead patiently and persistently, as well as to the expert military professionals who carried out this mission after constant training and preparation and experience with these types of operations. President Obama should be credited with making the decision to proceed with the operation, as should CIA Director Panetta for its oversight. Our nation is still at risk, and more attacks on Americans and others will come. But the primary instigator of so much cruel violence has been removed.”
Congressman Pat Tiberi (OH-12)
“The death of Osama bin Laden is a relief for all Americans and freedom-loving people around the world. The threat of terrorism is still very real, but bin Laden’s death serves as a symbol of justice served to anyone wishing to do us harm. Our military and intelligence communities should be commended and I pray for their continued success.”
Congressman Ed Whitfield (KY-1)
“It is not an understatement to say that the death of one of the most notorious perpetrators of terrorism across the world, Osama Bin Laden, is a triumph for the world and a indisputable victory in the war on terrorism. Many of American’s men and women in uniform, including many of those from Fort Campbell, have served in this mission and tonight, we honor their service and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice in execution of this mission. Moving forward in Afghanistan and Iraq in the wake of this victory, I will continue to ensure that our service men and women have the resources necessary to complete their missions and return home victorious to a grateful nation.”
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The Ripon Society is a public policy organization that was founded in 1962 and takes its name from the town where the Republican Party was born in 1854 – Ripon, Wisconsin. One of the main goals of The Ripon Society is to promote the ideas and principles that have made America great and contributed to the GOP’s success. These ideas include keeping our nation secure, keeping taxes low and having a federal government that is smaller, smarter and more accountable to the people.