President Obama met on Friday with Navy SEALs who took part in the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound.
The meeting took place before Mr. Obama spoke to service members at Fort Campbell, Ky., who have recently returned from deployment.
A White House official said that Mr. Obama and Vice President Biden met first with some of the Special Operations forces who carried out the operation, who briefed the president on the mission. The president and vice president then met with the full assault force.
Mr. Obama awarded the units who were involved in the raid a Presidential Unit Citation - which the official called "the highest such honor that can be given to a unit" - for their service.
Speaking to the Fort Campbell service members following the meetings, the president called the team members "extraordinary."
"They're America's quiet professionals whose success demands secrecy," he said, lauding the men for volunteering to serve their country instead of choosing a "life of ease."
"They trained for years; they're battle-hardened," he said. "They practiced tirelessly for this mission. And when I gave order, they were ready. In recent days, the whole world has learned just how ready they were."
"Job well done," Mr. Obama added, to cheers. "Job well done."
Mr. Obama noted that the men, whose identities are not being released, were not present in the audience.
Biden, who spoke before Mr. Obama, told the service members that U.S. fighting forces "are the most capable warriors in the history of the world."
"This is going to go down in history, what happened," Biden said, calling the raid "one of the gutsiest" ever.
In the closed-door meetings, which also included meetings with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment and the 5th Special Forces Group, Mr. Obama "was able to speak and offer his personal admiration and gratitude for our servicemembers, and to personally greet them," the White House official said.
"I came here for a simple reason: to say thank you on behalf of America," Mr. Obama told service members following the meetings. "This has been a historic week in the life of our nation."
He said it had been a week to remind Americans who they are as a people.
"The essence of America, the values that have defined us for more than 200 years -- they don't just endure, they are stronger then ever," he said.
The president told the uniformed troops that America is "ultimately going to defeat al Qaeda," and said the group's leadership was under enormous pressure even before bin Laden was killed. The president said while there is still a tough fight ahead -- both against al Qaeda and in Afghanistan -- progress has been made.
"Our strategy is working and there is no greater evidence of that then justice finally being delivered to Osama bin Laden," he said.
Mr. Obama also took time to laud the 125 troops from Fort Campbell "who have made the ultimate sacrifice."
The White House initially refused to address reporters' questions about the planned meetings. White House Press Secretary Jay Carney would say only that Mr. Obama was meeting with "special operators" involved with the raid, adding that it was "extremely important" that he not say more.
The GOP are determined that President Obama will not get credit for anything,all I hear, if it wasn't for bush etc. etc. President Obama knew how to proceed, and who to use, and how to assemble data, and follow through with a job well done. Had this mission failed then Obama would be on the top of the list of who to blame for the failure. It is time for the GOP to accept Obama as President of the United States and support America by supporting Obama.
"Waterboarding has been used on only three detainees," Hayden told the Senate Intelligence Committee. It was the first time a U.S. official publicly specified the number of people subjected to waterboarding and named them.
This is the tactic often employed by teenagers caught fornicating or using illegal drugs. When ask how many times they've previously transgress, it's usually "like three." They're not going to admit that they had CIA operatives in secret prisons hooking TA 312 hank crank generators up to detainees testicles just for their personal sadistic entertainment.
Boy I have never seen such high school antics from the republicans in this country, If Bush had found Bin Laden we would have had a parade every day for a month with flags flying and God knows what. They are determined that this President will not get credit for anything,all I hear, if it wasn't for bush etc. etc. This president knew how to proceed, and who to use, and how to assemble data, and follow through with a job well done. It is a mosaic of data accumulated for years up to today. I tell you republicans this will come back to haunt you losers. This man is very intelligent something that was lacking in the last administration,we are paying for that last administration today. If Bush had inherited all that Obama has we all would be in a bread line with our small soup bowls,you have taken over the house because you campaigned on getting America to work and all you want is to hit the elderly, and overturn abortion etc, nothing that helps this country to move forward, you just have a great propaganda market and stupid people who listens to it,so I will be glad when 2012 is over and we get the House back, Senate back, and Obama back. We then can really go forward.
And yet, I still don't understand why they try to credit both Bush and waterboarding for getting OBL, even if it is like doing a straddle split over the grand canyon. If crucial information was obtained through waterboarding, it's really telling about Bush administration's incompetence. I just saw Hayden on CNN ... priceless ...
First a reminder from Feb, 2008 :
+++ "Waterboarding has been used on only three detainees," Hayden told the Senate Intelligence Committee. It was the first time a U.S. official publicly specified the number of people subjected to waterboarding and named them. (...) Those subjected to waterboarding were suspected September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and senior al Qaeda leaders Abu Zubaydah and Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, Hayden said at the Senate hearing on threats to the United States. He said waterboarding has not been used in five years."The circumstances under which we are operating ... are frankly, different than they were in late 2001 and early 2002," Hayden said. "Very critical to those circumstances was the belief that additional catastrophic attacks against the homeland were imminent. In addition to that, my agency ... had limited knowledge about al Qaeda and its workings. Those two realities have changed." +++
So, any information obtained using waterboarding must have been obtained in 2003 at the latest, 8 years ago.
Let's listen to Hayden now. He says that important information was obtained from people who have been subjected to enhanced interrogation techniques. Note the phrasing: it doesn't say "during these interrogations".
Conclusion: important information was obtained from people who have been subjected to enhanced interrogation techniques, but only 4 years later thanks to the long lasting effects of waterboarding.
If waterboarding was so valuable, why were the only terrorists Bush convicted and kept in GITMO are only a driver and a press agent. Where was the round up of the killers and leaders that issued the orders to attack?
It's so entertaining to read the excuses and whining of the right-wingers here. The more you post, the more obvious it is just how demoralized you are at the success of our president. You should all be rejoicing with the rest of us, but you put partisanship ahead of patriotism. It's sad rally...
I know, but if you had to go right out your front door to walk around your house to get to your garage. You had to only take right turns to eventually arrive at your job site, you could only eat with your right hand and could only speak out of the right side of your mouth then it's sort of......................... Tragically Funny!
O'bozo knows the lack of intelligence of his followers. Peacenik wanna-bes, churls, angry mean phonys. The masters of war (Puppet masters) ordered this raid, O'bozo only did what he was ordered to do by his puppet masters. His followers now sing the praise of the masters of war, just a bunch of clueless, childish screamers shouting out what they perceive is cool. They are so easily controlled by emotion rather than I.Q. Zealots shouting Love with Hate in their eyes(the loony-left)
Well, you sure proved one thing about your intelligence quotient -- it is missing from your point of view, which is merely political ideology of the most biased nature. Not smart. Not truth.
bobbily, you know what they say: conservatives always accuse their opponents of exactly what they're guilty. Also liberals are usually better educated even with our low IQ's. We were proven right about all the doctored intelligence that led us to war in Iraq with our low IQ's. We've been right about alot of things even with our low intelligence. Conservatives on the other hand have been so very wrong about so very much with your high IQ's. Maybe you should just start thinking for yourself for a change. You counldn't do much worse than the GOP establishment or Tea Party.
That would be the Republicon controled House of Representatives, you dolt. They draft the budget. Maybe go to night school and try to get your GED or something.
by user000049586849302948603 May 7, 2011 10:51 AM EDT I love how bitter and angry Republicons are that Obama got OBL after both Bush and Rummey had thrown up their hands and said that they didn't care where OBL was and finding him wasn't a priority for them. Those dogs just didn't hunt. Reply to this comment
by SaoPauloIsHere May 7, 2011 10:55 AM EDT Quit making stuffs up you fool.OBL (Obama Barrack Lying) was gravely ill and was no threat to anybody.The real dangerous alqaeda people were caught by Bush/Cheney a long ago and they are in hotel Gitmo.
by hakori May 7, 2011 10:06 AM EDT Calibrationist, SaoPaulo...one word, hypocrites. Let's assume Bush had captured or killed Bin Laden and a liberal accused him of killing a helpless weakling. Nevemind that the weakling was the mastermind of the 911 attacks. What you you two tell that liberal? Yeah, thought so! You two just can't accept that Obama did what Bush couldn't, so you aren't going to allow him any credit in your little minds. So be it, but guess what... It doesn't change anything! It doesn't change reality and it doesn't take away from a great success for Barak Obama and the American people. Get it? Now shut up!
********************************
Hakori my new yorker-japanese GaysLover friend ,look, if it was Bush to catch him he wouldn't mind to display his body the same way he did with Saddam and his sons.OBL (Obama Barrack Lying) is hiding something.
I love how bitter and angry Republicons are that Obama got OBL after both Bush and Rummey had thrown up their hands and said that they didn't care where OBL was and finding him wasn't a priority for them. Those dogs just didn't hunt.
Quit making stuffs up you fool.OBL (Obama Barrack Lying) was gravely ill and was no threat to anybody.The real dangerous alqaeda people were caught by Bush/Cheney a long ago and they are in hotel Gitmo.
The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited. By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.
Reply to Comment The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited. By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.
CBS
Hayden on CNN:
"Waterboarding has been used on only three detainees," Hayden told the Senate Intelligence Committee. It was the first time a U.S. official publicly specified the number of people subjected to waterboarding and named them.
____________________________________________________________
This is the tactic often employed by teenagers caught fornicating or using illegal drugs. When ask how many times they've previously transgress, it's usually "like three." They're not going to admit that they had CIA operatives in secret prisons hooking TA 312 hank crank generators up to detainees testicles just for their personal sadistic entertainment.
If crucial information was obtained through waterboarding, it's really telling about Bush administration's incompetence.
I just saw Hayden on CNN ... priceless ...
First a reminder from Feb, 2008 :
+++
"Waterboarding has been used on only three detainees," Hayden told the Senate Intelligence Committee. It was the first time a U.S. official publicly specified the number of people subjected to waterboarding and named them.
(...)
Those subjected to waterboarding were suspected September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and senior al Qaeda leaders Abu Zubaydah and Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, Hayden said at the Senate hearing on threats to the United States.
He said waterboarding has not been used in five years."The circumstances under which we are operating ... are frankly, different than they were in late 2001 and early 2002," Hayden said. "Very critical to those circumstances was the belief that additional catastrophic attacks against the homeland were imminent. In addition to that, my agency ... had limited knowledge about al Qaeda and its workings. Those two realities have changed."
+++
So, any information obtained using waterboarding must have been obtained in 2003 at the latest, 8 years ago.
Let's listen to Hayden now. He says that important information was obtained from people who have been subjected to enhanced interrogation techniques. Note the phrasing: it doesn't say "during these interrogations".
Conclusion: important information was obtained from people who have been subjected to enhanced interrogation techniques, but only 4 years later thanks to the long lasting effects of waterboarding.
Obama is ashamed to show the photos of the guy he killed.Osama was gravelly ill and looked more like a guy with AIDS.
Obama knows that the real dangerous alqaeda people were caught by Bush long ago and are in Gitmo.
But, you do know looney... there, in the mirror.
I love how bitter and angry Republicons are that Obama got OBL after both Bush and Rummey had thrown up their hands and said that they didn't care where OBL was and finding him wasn't a priority for them. Those dogs just didn't hunt.
Reply to this comment
by SaoPauloIsHere May 7, 2011 10:55 AM EDT
Quit making stuffs up you fool.OBL (Obama Barrack Lying) was gravely ill and was no threat to anybody.The real dangerous alqaeda people were caught by Bush/Cheney a long ago and they are in hotel Gitmo.
________________________________________________________________________
Case and point.
Calibrationist, SaoPaulo...one word, hypocrites. Let's assume Bush had captured or killed Bin Laden and a liberal accused him of killing a helpless weakling. Nevemind that the weakling was the mastermind of the 911 attacks. What you you two tell that liberal? Yeah, thought so! You two just can't accept that Obama did what Bush couldn't, so you aren't going to allow him any credit in your little minds. So be it, but guess what... It doesn't change anything! It doesn't change reality and it doesn't take away from a great success for Barak Obama and the American people. Get it? Now shut up!
********************************
Hakori my new yorker-japanese GaysLover friend ,look, if it was Bush to catch him he wouldn't mind to display his body the same way he did with Saddam and his sons.OBL (Obama Barrack Lying) is hiding something.