Obama: "Capture Or Kill" Bin Laden

CBS Evening News Exclusive: Katie Couric Interviews Barack Obama On Terror, Israel And His Stimulus Plan

(CBS)  In just six days, Barack Obama will be sworn-in as President of the United States. Today, Osama bin Laden marked the occasion with a new threat. But in an exclusive interview with CBS News anchor Katie Couric, the president-elect sent a message of his own for bin Laden and his terror network. What follows is a partial transcript of the interview.

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President-elect Barack Obama: We took our eye off the ball when we invaded Iraq. And now it's done. My job is to withdraw in a responsible way from Iraq and stabilize the situation there. But our real focus has to be on Afghanistan, the border regions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. And we have to put as much pressure on them as possible. I've already, you know, spoken to my national security team about how we're going to do that. And I'm confident that we can keep them on the run, and ensure that they cannot train terrorists to attack our homeland. That's my number one priority as President of the United States.

Couric: How important do you think it is, Mr. President-elect, to apprehend Osama bin Laden?

Mr. Obama: I think that we have to so weaken his infrastructure that, whether he is technically alive or not, he is so pinned down that he cannot function. My preference obviously would be to capture or kill him. But if we have so tightened the noose that he's in a cave somewhere and can't even communicate with his operatives, then we will meet our goal of protecting America.

Couric: A renewed ceasefire seems pretty elusive at this juncture between Hamas and Israel. What would you say to leaders on both sides to break through the stalemate?

Mr. Obama: Well, you know, I've been very clear on this, Katie, that until January 20th we have one president at a time and that's George Bush. But, we are gonna start on day one. Hillary Clinton, in her testimony during her confirmation hearing, expressed my views and the views of the administration that we can't delay. We can't kick the can down the road. We're gonna have to take a regional approach. We're gonna have to involve Syria in discussions. We're gonna have to engage Iran in ways that we have not before. We've gotta have a clear bottom line that Israel's security is paramount. But that also we have to create a two-state solution where people can live side by side in peace.

Couric: It was revealed yesterday that your nominee for Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geitner, failed to pay some taxes, and did so only after he learned he would be tapped as Treasury secretary. How embarrassing do you think this is for a future Treasury Secretary who will be overseeing the IRS?

Mr. Obama: Well, I think he's embarrassed about it. But we knew about this before we nominated him. It was an innocent mistake, a common mistake that's made. But here's the bottom line: Nobody denies that he is uniquely qualified for this job, that he has more experience in dealing with international crises. He's been uniformly praised by Republicans and Democrats and by the marketplace. And so … I'm confident he will be confirmed and I'm confident he will do an outstanding job.

Couric: And let me just end by asking you about the stimulus package. Forty percent of your stimulus package relies on tax cuts with the hopes that people will invest that money or put it back into the economy.

Mr. Obama: Right.

Couric: But some critics have said, "hey, that didn't really happen the last time." Why will it this time?

Mr. Obama: Well, there are a couple of things. First of all, I think it's important to understand that the majority of our spending is direct government spending on critical infrastructure that will set the table for long-term economic growth.

We're gonna double alternative energy. We're gonna rebuild our schools and community colleges and public universities. We're gonna invest billions of dollars in health information technology so that we can drive down costs for average families. So that's where the majority of the money's going.

Now, are some people gonna just pay down their credit cards or save some of that money? Absolutely. And if Congress has better suggestions where they can show me that one approach is gonna be better than another approach, I'm happy to take it. I don't have pride of authorship here. But the general framework, the general outlines of the plan are ones that we have run by economists from the left and the right, conservative, liberal. This is a package that I think is gonna make sense. I have every confidence that it's gonna work. But it's gonna take some time. And we've gotta do it with some speed. So my main message to Congress right now is "get it done."

Couric: And if it doesn't work?

Mr. Obama: Failure is never an option. Not in America.

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You'll be able to see more of Couric's interview on a CBS News Special, "Change and Challenge: The Inauguration of Barack Obama," next Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET or 8 p.m. CT.

[mnelsonix]

Couric: And if it doesn''t work?

Mr. Obama: Failure is never an option. Not in America.
___________
Failure should be an option. banks, car companies, mom and pop stores, mervyn''s, etc...all should be allowed to fail or prosper.

Opportunity to start and run a business, not a guarantee of success.

Opportunity to persue happiness...not guaranteed happiness.

The wussification of America makes me lurp.

[neo269]

OBie''s fixation - kill his alter ego and the world will magically become a wonderful place. Regardless of whether he gets Bin Laden, he''ll come up with an excuse to bargain with the Taliban and Cut-n-Run from Afghanistan. He''s already proud of supporting a genocidal dictator and the terrorists responsible for murdering 4,000 American soldiers in Iraq. We''d be better off with Osama as President.

[centerfall94]

I think Obama will succeed where Bush and the neocons failed. And that has them crying in their booties. Understandable. Nearly everything Obama does makes the neocons more and more irrelvant. Fun stuff!!

[eroosevelt08]

It is so wonderful to have a President-Elect who understands the big picture. I have renewed hope for the future of the United States of America!

[mnbass1]

repo_man_08 your an ***

[mnbass1]

repo_man_08 Repo man. why would we believe anything you say. your and *** hole

[missingamerica]

It is so wonderful to have a President-Elect who understands the big picture. I have renewed hope for the future of the United States of America!

Posted by ERoosevelt08 at 07:29 PM : Jan 14, 2009

Precisely - but I will feel a whole lot better on January 21st.

That is the morning when I will pinch myself really, really hard...

[mnbass1]

Obama is ten time the man Bush was. Bush is a drunken *** that need to be in jail.

[roystoll2]

The bed wetting teary eyed liberals who want to release the captured terrorists at Guantanamo at least owe the victims of these people full disclosure of who these animals (they now want to deify) as to what American soldiers or civilians that they killed or maimed. Since they were captured on the battlefield, I am sure they were not selling girl scout cookies. I think Daniel Shore of NPR could take a few in as he thinks that they are innocent victims.

[mnbass1]

I can see releasing the terrorist from gitmo only to have them run thru the 60 cal bullits.

[missingamerica]

Since they were captured on the battlefield, I am sure they were not selling girl scout cookies.

Posted by ROYSTOLL2 at 07:32 PM : Jan 14, 2009

So that makes ''em POWs, eh?

[mnbass1]

they are terorists and need to be dealt with accordingly

[missingamerica]

they are terorists and need to be dealt with accordingly

Posted by mnbass1 at 07:35 PM : Jan 14, 2009

Some of them undoubtedly are. The problem, however, is that we have no way of ascertaining which ones are and which ones aren''t.

I don''t trust information obtained under torture...there is far too much accumulated history of such information being just exactly what the tortured thought their torturer wanted to hear.

[mnbass1]

A dead terrorist can not hurt us aymore

[govwatch-2009]

What an idiot! What does BO think the Marines have been trying to do all these years?

[missingamerica]

I think that''s why the Romans hung Jesus on a cross....

Posted by FloydZeppd at 07:39 PM : Jan 14, 2009

Wonder if Christianity would exist, if that Roman governor hadn''t been a neocon in a skirt and sandals?

[mnbass1]

repo_man_08 no it just makes you an ***

[dottydo]

Let me get this straight...
Al queda wanted to break the financial backbone of the USA. The Conquistadores flooded into to get loans from Freddy and Fannie using illegal Id''s and tactics.
The Head of the Mac and May story are now in the cabinet of the elect and we are broke.
The floodgates were guarded by our new zar, whose State the Conquistadores are abandoning now(leaving the homes they could never pay for in the first place ).
Nothing left to do but finish it by laying down arms and giving up.


Our current troops do not deserve a blood bath by being left with too few, and slaughtered.
France is nice this time of Year. Canada and Ireland are pretty places.
Life is good in the World.
Bring your fairy dust and sleep well.

[rudy6543]

The Taliban and Al Queda are hee hawing their behinds off at their brethern putting the big shuck on you.


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Posted by TexHillGirl at 07:47 PM

Said the hick in the sticks.

[randy2401]

Looks like the "handlers" of Obama are the same that handled Bush. All this to get one man, a man who lives in a cave. Ridiculous. Do research on why 9/11 happened and you will see the real villain. Bin Laden was just a result of oppression, similar to the Oklahoma City bombers to the Waco massacre. Think about it.

[microgadus]

"gonna" ???? What kind of community college graduate says "gonna" in a TELEVISED INTERVIEW??? How many "uhs" were redacted???

Where''s Bill? Weve now gone so long without a President who can actually speak the ENGLISH LANGUAGE, I afeared dat me gonna furgit how to speek it kurrectly (apologies to John Kerry & Stephen King!)

[whitemale08]

If you can''t see the Anglo-Saudi connection between Osama Bin Laden and 9/11 then I''m sorry you don''t stand a chance in catching him.

The British financial oligarchy is using 9/11 to lure the U.S. into Afganistan so it can destroy itself and bankruptcy will be its only option.

Once that mission is accomplished then we will be at the mercy of a ''Universal Reserve System'' where our debit cards will use carbon-credits to finance our very lives.

Government will be no more then a ''tool'' for the Rothschilds and Rockefellers because now they have a vested interest in the very banks that bankrupted the United States due to the bailouts.

Americans better get up off the couch, do your research and use your own deductive thinking skills to draw the conclusions that I outline on these boards every single day.

Stop watching football while you suck your thumbs eating greasy food that will kill you and call Congress to STOP THE BRITISH CONSPIRACY AGAINST AMERICA!

[enviro_wacko]

When Obama does capture or kill Osama, the Obama will get all the credit for keeping us safe from terrorist.

[zuha22]

America will never capture OSAMA

[togeika]

He should heir one of the film makers. I bet they could get Bin Laden. ;^)

[CGSuddeath]

"But if we have so tightened the noose that he''''s in a cave somewhere and can''''t even communicate with his operatives, then we will meet our goal of protecting America. "

That''''s almost as silly as Bush''''s "dead or alive" speech.

I thought Obama promised change. We''''ve been short changed.

We''''re so doomed. This guy has nothing.



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Posted by repo_man_08 at 07:16 PM : Jan 14, 2009

The Guy''s not in office yet and you want him to do something now?

What an unbelievable idiot!!!Wait until he''s president and does nothing like Mr. Bush then you can complain!!!


Wa

[brannigon]

Capture him? Forget it! Find him and put this filthy animal to sleep and send him straight to hell!!!

[roscoe2400-2009]

If you can''''t see the Anglo-Saudi connection between Osama Bin Laden and 9/11 then I''''m sorry you don''''t stand a chance in catching him.

The British financial oligarchy is using 9/11 to lure the U.S. into Afganistan so it can destroy itself and bankruptcy will be its only option.

Once that mission is accomplished then we will be at the mercy of a ''''Universal Reserve System'''' where our debit cards will use carbon-credits to finance our very lives.

Government will be no more then a ''''tool'''' for the Rothschilds and Rockefellers because now they have a vested interest in the very banks that bankrupted the United States due to the bailouts.

Americans better get up off the couch, do your research and use your own deductive thinking skills to draw the conclusions that I outline on these boards every single day.

Stop watching football while you suck your thumbs eating greasy food that will kill you and call Congress to STOP THE BRITISH CONSPIRACY AGAINST AMERICA!


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Posted by whitemale08 at 08:21 PM : Jan 14, 2009


Here''s another one afflicted by the deadly psycobabble disease. It seems to be spreading rampantly!

[roscoe2400-2009]

Hey Obama! What magazines ya read..


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Posted by william412 at 08:13 PM : Jan 14, 2009


Oprah and Ebony!

[roscoe2400-2009]

The Guy''''s not in office yet and you want him to do something now?

What an unbelievable idiot!!!Wait until he''''s president and does nothing like Mr. Bush then you can complain!!!


Wa


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Posted by cgsuddeath at 08:35 PM : Jan 14, 2009


So, I guess it''s acceptable to you that Osama Bin Laden can remain free in the world for the rest of his life??? That''s what Obama just said---- I''m sorry, but it''s simply not acceptable. Go tell taht to any one of the family or freinds of those who +erished on 9/11/2001. It''s simply not acceptable to be satified that he''s permitted to live out his days in a cave or on the beach somewhere!

[rukindr]

Look out Michelle, katie couric likes interviewing barry. she has the hots for him...makes her look like a school girl doing an interview...very unprofessional.
CBS needs to get rid of her.

Posted by kevinkkloste

She''s probably cherishing spending some time with a man who will, regardless of being a good President or failure, go down as one of the most important figures in American history.

[CGSuddeath]

The Taliban and Al Queda are hee hawing their behinds off at their brethern putting the big shuck on you.


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Posted by TexHillGirl at 07:47 PM

Said the hick in the sticks.


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Posted by rudy6543 at 08:16 PM : Jan 14, 2009

What do you expect from bubba-town

[CGSuddeath]

Roscoe2400:
You obviously didn''t pay attention to the interview

[rmwhitman]

When Bush left office I thought the next president would not say "we''re gonna" like George Bush did...

Count the "gonna''s" in the above article.

Does anyone else believe the president should use proper english?

[dottydo]

It really doesn''t matter today to Japan or us that they attacked us. We share baseball games, BBQ''s golf, poolside fun and Disneyland.
Same with every Country
American means you leave your old Country, change your clothes, and shed the problems in the old Country to live in peace and prosperity as just another average American. No one is special or better here. If you work you win, if your a lout, we feed you.
I think the "learn to talk like a man" scene in Gran Torino would teach both neighbors in Gaza to appreciate their Countries and live harmoniously.
These people never laugh and enjoy life....they struggle over history.
Do we really care?
No.
All we care about is making sure our President doesn''t screw our troops and get them killed with a nieve plan.
No heroics in pure fodder for a fool needed .
Just like Nam. When the President isn''t going to back you up, just meet the family in a safer Country and finish living happy.

[rmwhitman]

I''m sorry, when you count the "gonna''s" please include the "gotta''s"

[Michael Arnold]

Capture Bin Laden, indeed.

[lopezf11]

You said you wanted a black woman with brains do the interview.
Condi Rice is just a HO from the HOOD.


Posted by demswin08

Yes, that''s what Obama called her.

[rosieodminge]

Professor Joseph Olson of Hemline University School of Law, St. Paul ,
Minnesota , points out some interesting facts concerning the Presidential
election:

Number of States won by: Democrats: 19 Republicans: 29
Square miles of land won by: Democrats: 580,000 Republicans: 2,427,000
Population of counties won by: Democrats: 127 million Republicans: 143 million
Murder rate per 100,000 residents in counties won by: Democrats: 13.2 Republicans: 2.1

Professor Olson adds: "In aggregate, the map of the territory Republican
won by Republicans was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens
of the country.
Democrat territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in
government-owned tenements and living off various forms of government
welfare.

[lopezf11]

Professor Olson adds: "In aggregate, the map of the territory Republican
won by Republicans was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens
of the country.
Democrat territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in
government-owned tenements and living off various forms of government
welfare.

Posted by RosieOdMinge

I suspect a whole lot more of us will end up living in those conditions in the next four years. Hope and Change, you know.

[enviro_wacko]

Congratulations terrorist apologists, your candidate won. President Hussein is practicing "expectations management" for the collapse of Iraq, and a vacation for Bin Laden.
Posted by editorCBS
===============
And it will be more done in 1 year than the chimp accomplished in 8 years.
Oh sorry I forgot he accomplished nothing except ruin the American economy and kill over 7000 americans.
Posted by demswin08
-----------------------
demswin08, you sure are dense.
barrack will accomplish more in one year based on what? Terrorist loves a tool liked you to help out with their dirty work.
BTW, you''''ll be safer in a same room with a monkey holding a loaded gun than a in a country runs by idiot like you.




Posted by USA-No1 at 10:05 PM : Jan 14, 2009

Latest poll shows Obama has a 67% approval rating. That leaves repigletards less than 1/3 of the voters. So sorry. How does it feel to be more marginalized than the KKK.

[lopezf11]

YOUUUUUUUUU Lost!!!!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!


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Posted by Nearl4511 at

Yes, that''s what Obama said.

[missingamerica]

Professor Olson adds: "In aggregate, the map of the territory Republican
won by Republicans was mostly the land owned by the taxpaying citizens
of the country.
Democrat territory mostly encompassed those citizens living in
government-owned tenements and living off various forms of government
welfare.

Posted by RosieOdMinge

Somewhat surprising to see that claim still being made, when it is so easy to find the data that shows the "red states" in fact general suck up significantly more taxpayer dollars out of the Treasury than they pay in...

[b4ucmyi]

Kill Bin Laden? What? Bin Laden will be the next Dean at Harvard!

[lopezf11]

Somewhat surprising to see that claim still being made, when it is so easy to find the data that shows the "red states" in fact general suck up significantly more taxpayer dollars out of the Treasury than they pay in...

Posted by ibsteve2u

Couric knows how to suck up.

[lopezf11]

Kill Bin Laden? What? Bin Laden will be the next Dean at Harvard!

Posted by b4ucmyI

That''s absurd. Harvard Law School, maybe.

[patriotic9]

Congratulations terrorist apologists, your candidate won. President Hussein is practicing "expectations management for the collapse of Iraq, and a vacation for Bin Laden.

Posted by editorCBS at 08:43 PM : Jan 14, 2009

Don''t you really feel ashamed calling majority of Americans who voted Obama "Terrorist apologist". Dude watch my words. Your days are numbered. Time is near when psychotic radical christians will be held accountable for every single penny from US tax dollars which were spent on a NON-AMERICAN CAUSE, NON-AMERICAN PEOPLE chosen by a RACIST, UNJUST and ANTI-AMERICAN GOD and a NON-AMERICAN filthy and nasty HOLY LAND to buy HATRED, TERRORISM and 9/11 for GOD-NEGLECTED AMERICANS and UNHOLY LAND "UNITED STATES".

[lopezf11]

Dude watch my words. Your days are numbered. Time is near when psychotic radical christians will be held accountable for every single penny from US tax dollars which were spent on a NON-AMERICAN CAUSE, NON-AMERICAN PEOPLE chosen by a RACIST, UNJUST and ANTI-AMERICAN GOD and a NON-AMERICAN filthy and nasty HOLY LAND to buy HATRED, TERRORISM and 9/11 for GOD-NEGLECTED AMERICANS and UNHOLY LAND "UNITED STATES".

Posted by patriotic9

Dude, I''m watching your words. You kinda have this upper case thing going, dude. Is is you keyboard or are you kind of like shouting, dude?

[gmag39]

what a bunch of left/right nutjobs posting here.
Isn''t ANYONE a moderate, middle-of-the-road American
anymore? More likely, they, like me, read this *** for the comic relief it provides.

[b4ucmyi]

"red states" in fact general suck up significantly more taxpayer dollars out of the Treasury than they pay in...

Posted by ibsteve2u at 10:25 PM : Jan 14, 2009

Really? Run Michigan through your UNIVAC program and tell me what it spits out.