President Obama on the raid that killed bin Laden

KROFT: This was your decision whether to proceed or not and how to proceed. What was the most difficult part of that decision?

OBAMA: The most difficult part is always the fact that you're sending guys into harm's way. And there are a lot of things that could go wrong. I mean there're a lot of moving parts here. So my biggest concern was if I'm sending those guys in and Murphy's Law applies and somethin' happens, can we still get our guys out?

So that's point number one. These guys are going in, you know, the darkness of night. And they don't know what they're gonna find there. They don't know if the building is rigged. They don't know if, you know, there are explosives that are triggered by a particular door opening. So huge risks that these guys are taking. And so my number one concern was, if I send them in, can I get them out?

Point number two was, as outstanding a job as our intelligence teams did, and I cannot praise them enough, they did an extraordinary job with just the slenderest of bits of information to piece this all together. At the end of the day, this was still a 55/45 situation. I mean we could not say definitively that bin Laden was there. Had he not been there, then there would have been some significant consequences.

Obviously, we're going into the sovereign territory of another country and landing helicopters and conducting a military operation. And so if it turns out that it's a wealthy, you know, prince from Dubai who's in this compound and, you know, we've sent Special Forces in, we've got problems. So there were risks involved geopolitically in making the decision. But my number one concern was can our guys get in and get out safely.

The fact that our Special Forces have become so good -- these guys perform at levels that 20, 30 years ago would not have happened -- I think finally gave me the confidence to say, "Let's go ahead."

KROFT: It's been reported that there was some resistance from advisors and planners who disagreed with the commando raid approach. Was it difficult for you to overcome that?

OBAMA: One of the things that we've done here is to build a team that is collegial and where everybody speaks their mind. And there's not a lot of snipin' or back biting after the fact. And what I've tried to do is make sure that every time I sit down in the Situation Room, every one of my advisors around there knows I expect them to give me their best assessments.

And so the fact that there were some who voiced doubts about this approach was invaluable, because it meant the plan was sharper, it meant that we had thought through all of our options, it meant that when I finally did make the decision I was making it based on the very best information.

It wasn't as if any of the folks who were voicing doubts were voicing something that I wasn't already running through in my own head.

KROFT: How much did some of the past failures, like the Iran hostage rescue attempt, how did that weigh on you?

OBAMA: I thought...about that.

KROFT: Was that...a factor?

OBAMA: Absolutely. Absolutely. No, I mean you think about Black Hawk Down. You think about what happened with the Iranian rescue. And you know, I am very sympathetic to the situation for other presidents where you make a decision. You're making your best call, your best shot and something goes wrong because these are tough, complicated operations. And, yeah, absolutely. The day before, I was thinkin' about this quite a bit.

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[carolhill814]

I just wish one day I wouldn't see this man's ugly face on the internet all I am asking for is just ONE DAY.

[Greg_J]

When are you 350 MILLION GENTILES AMERICANS going to DEMAND that is reality of today's America is ended forever, through making it illegal for any minority to make political donations, and offer directorships in their companies. How can any self-respecting people and country tolerate this >>

"We, the Jewish people control America, and the Americans know it".

SHAME ON YOU LOT. GET REAL! STOP threatening all other countries bar ISRAEL, the only Terrorist Entity in the Middle East, costing hundreds of $ Billions to the tax-payers, and thousands of American lives, making the Americans most hated all over the world.

[Greg_J]

It is good to know your enemies from your friends.
--------------------------------------------------

It looks like after over 60 years Pakistani Rulers have come to realise that USA rulers are not their friends, but enemies, in the pockets of Muslims declared enemies, the Jews, who are the USA's proxy rulers. USSR leaders had threatened to wipe Pakistan off the map after the Pakistani rulers at the time were allowing the USA to fly their spy planes over the Soviet Territories, using Pakistani airfields. Americans would not and did not help Pakistan have a steel mill, which the Russians helped Pakistan with in the end.


USA imposed sanction on Pakistan for nuclear activities, but have never uttered a word about or against Israel's nuclear, biological and chemical weapons activities.


Over one million Afghans, including the Taliban, and Muslims from various nation sacrificed their lives for USA's proxy war against the Soviet Union. Soviet invasion and then carpet bombing by the Americans after 9/11 had sent over 3 million Afghan into Pakistan tribal areas. After the Soviet withdrawal, Americans, along with their other Western allies just walked away from Pakistan, leaving millions of Afghan for a poor country like Pakistan to take care of, and create problems within Pakistan.


Even now, grudgingly, and with so many conditions attached, they are given $7.5 billion blood money over 5 years to this country of 180 millions, fighting America's war against Muslims, with over 34,000 lives have been lost in Pakistan so far, and the economy has suffered a loss of $16 BILLION, because of USA's war. Yet, the American rulers continue to deposit direct into Israeli Treasury Account $5 billion each year of American Tax-Payers money even in this dire financial strait at home, and giving FREE military aid, some time giving the new weapons to the Israelis which are not even issued to the American forces. This is the stark reality in the USA, in its sham, a fraud democracy, where a tiny number of Jews own and control American rulers. Or, give me some MORAL reasons why the USA has not and does not STOP Israeli state terrorism against the Palestinians, and end the blocked of the biggest Concentration Camp, Gaza, (Vatican), and illegal settlement building in the occupied land for over 60 years.


I am delighted to know that the Pakistan President has gone to neighbouring Russia on a 3 day visit, while the Prime Minister is in China for a 4 day visit, the most loyal and steadfast friend Pakistan have had for decades. Obama should NOT be invited to come to Pakistan, this murdering most evil half-white scum.

[lucifersshadow]

First, I thought Obama would be a good president, and I am from the LEFT, not the right. However I cannot buy this 55/45 BS. He acts like this was a huge decision and that they really did not know if it was Bin Ladin in there or not. But do you honestly think that with today's technology, we had a team on the ground near the compound and they still did not know it was Bin Laden in there? That is plain rubbish, he just wants to get re-elected.
Obama has completely lost credibility with me, have you noticed how his stance on the war changed? We may as well have Bush in there still. Instead of following his campagn pledge to extract troops, that everyone heard, he allowed himself to be convinced by the military industrial complex that he should send more troops. He was going to let the tax cuts for the rich expire, see how he let that happen? He was going to close Guantanamo, see how he closed it? While the cards fell in Mubarak's favor, Obama was all for supporting Mubarak and sending American dollars to him. When the outcome of the Egyptian revolution was uncertain, Obama waffled. When the crowds finally won over, he then supported them. Why would anyone take him seriously when all he does it talk BS?

[pauldia-2009]

Obama's gone from not spiking the football to Dirty Harry in three three weeks.Soon he'll be getting a "Don't tread on me" tattoo and a NRA lifetime membership.

[k2mn]

Regarding the debt: For 8 years, the GOP held the credit card. And just like immature teenagers, the GOP ran the credit card bill up to its max. Then Obama came along and took the credit card away from the GOP. As Obama tried to deal with how to pay the credit card bill, realizing that he had to spend money to make money (bail outs), the GOP blames Obama for THEIR spending sprees. Just like spoiled teenagers, the GOP say, "I didn't do it, HE did!" (Although when Obama relieves the world and kills bin Laden, the GOP say, "HE didn't do it, WE did!) Teenagers think they know everything and revolt against authority. Teenagers screw up and have a knack to find a twisted way to always blame someone else for their own actions. Teenagers also think the world revolves around them, and if they don't get their way, they make life miserable for authority. This is how I see the GOP acting...the teenagers who weren't responsible enough to hold the credit card, and until they grow up, they will blame everyone else except themselves.

[k2mn]

It's not terrorism, the economy, or the other huge stack of serious problems on President Obama's desk that scares me so much - it's the GOP! Go to/on any blog and read the deep, seething hatred the GOPers are spewing about our President and the Democrats...many of them even seem to be upset that bin Laden was killed! Then flip over to FOX and listen to them take credit for, brag about, and even encourage more torture! Any success President Obama gives to us and our country, past, present, and I'm sure in the future, he will be harshly criticized, unfairly judged on twisted, made up GOP lies, and heavily insulted on his race, background, and even on his family. It's OK to disagree - I've even disagreed with some of President Obama's decisions, and I've written him and my senators about it. But it seems like the GOP's fight goes way below the belt, and the hatred they continue to stir up, along with their FOX friends, is bordering on a fine line of being dangerous. Please, may we all grow up and act like American adults instead of American enemies?

[FugginSuggin_com]

The alleged death of Osama Bin Laden is being used to justify this never ending "War on Terror," as well as the further reduction of the rights of American Citizens in the name of security. People are so eager to believe the story of his death and scoff at those who don't trust the fable. Check out the below link to understand why so many people don't believe the U.S. government's story of the death of Osama Bin Laden.


http://www.fugginsuggin.com/2011/05/why-many-people-dont-believe-osama.html

[Birdman04]

Only conspiracy theory freaks and fruitcakes buy into that nonsense. Any truth to the rumor that Elvis is alive and well living with Bigfoot in Vegas?

[avigil2]

It's pretty clear to me that no matter what Obama does (and he's done quite a bit during his administration) some people will never be happy. During his tenure, one of the most wanted men in the world was located and killed... and that was exactly one week to the date that he proved his citizenship to those naysayers (HELLO... you can't be President of the United States if you're not a U.S. citizen). Those people need to move on or get out!

[forsanity1]

It is a very small percentage of Americans that absolutely refuse to accept any positive aspect of the Obama presidency.

It does seem that many of them have a lot of time on their hands and we see them posting all over the internet. The number of posts mean nothing -- just here on CBS, one person posts this kind of drivel under no less than seven different screen names.

The Republic is secure, the POTUS is doing as good a job as anyone could in the current US situation... fear is a wasted emotion -- if the thing you fear is real... well bye-bye.

Interesting to note: gas prices are going down. I saw it with my own eyes.

[1pheasant1]

by fairtax71 May 9, 2011 10:47 PM EDT

Mr. Cain will be nailing the President and his teleprompter in the 2012 debates.

================

Republicans will never give him the chance. I'm sure most want to see his birth certificate first! All others get a free pass.

[forsanity1]

1) Nobody uses teleprompters in debates.

2) Cain hasn't got a chance in the ongoing GOP primary race. Frank Luntz's focus group is not a viable bellwether...