[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6354-6355]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            OSAMA BIN LADEN

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, late last night, we learned the news we have 
been longing to hear since the worst morning in our memory: an American 
operation brought Osama bin Laden to justice. This was an American 
mission ordered by President Obama and accomplished by America's brave 
and brilliant military and intelligence professionals.
  Last night's news stunned the world. But this operation's success 
should surprise no one. America's special forces and intelligence 
operatives are the best--the best trained, the best equipped, the best 
led.
  Every day of every year they risk their lives for our sake, for our 
safety. They are the most professional and proficient forces on the 
planet. Yesterday, they brought down the most wanted mass murderer on 
Earth. Their success is the most significant victory yet in the fight 
against al-Qaida and terrorism and sends a strong and unmistakable 
message to terrorists who threaten our country, our people, and our 
interests.
  This success is a direct result of President Obama's leadership and 
the national security priorities he outlined when he took office and 
the green light he gave our forces this weekend. President Obama 
insisted that we refocus on Afghanistan and Pakistan as the central 
battlefields in our fight against terrorism.
  Those tremendous military, diplomatic, intelligence, and economic 
efforts are the reason we woke up this morning in a world that is no 
longer home to Osama bin Laden. But the end of his life is not the end 
of the fight. Yesterday's operation is indeed a measure of justice, but 
it is only one measure of justice. Absolutely it is a definitive 
victory, but it does not define absolute victory. America welcomes the 
success of our fellow citizens' extraordinary mission.
  Even as we breathe a sigh of relief, though, we are not relieved of 
our duty to be vigilant, to be persistent and defeat our enemy and to 
make our Nation stronger. The leader of al-Qaida is gone, but his 
organization is not. We know our enemy is widespread and motivated. The 
truth is, it may be more motivated today then it was yesterday.
  Our troops continue to fight. Our intelligence professionals continue 
to work. Their families continue to sacrifice. We continue to support 
all of them and support each other.
  We also pause today to, once again, lend a shoulder to those whose 
grief never ends, not with time, not with bin Laden's demise, not ever. 
This significant measure of justice is but a small measure of comfort 
for those who lost loved ones in America and around the world, in New 
York and Virginia and Pennsylvania, aboard the USS Cole, and in 
American Embassies in Africa, on trains in London and Madrid, and in so 
many other places.
  Bin Laden's death does not bring back the thousands of innocent 
people his thugs killed or make whole families who will be forever 
incomplete. But it is an important milestone that reminds the world 
America does not suffer the wicked and will not submit to evil. Our 
resolve is strengthened when it is challenged and our unity, though it 
too is often tested, is unbreakable.
  Because of the hard work of courageous Americans and our military, 
intelligence, diplomatic, and law enforcement communities, a long evil 
chapter in our Nation's history closed yesterday. Today, we welcome the 
spring of a new optimism and renewed patriotism. The chapter now behind 
us ended with justice. We hope the chapter ahead of us will bring 
security and peace.


                             Work Continues

  While the Nation and the world absorb this crucial development, the 
work of the Senate continues. Today, we begin a new month and a new 
work period and a new opportunity to come together to create jobs. I 
hope this month will be a productive month. There are several important 
and time-sensitive items on our plate. One, I hope to wrap up the small 
business jobs bill. This has been on the floor for weeks and weeks and 
weeks--far too long--and we need to resolve it so we can move on to 
other matters.
  Two, we will have the same debate in the Senate that the American 
people are having at home; that is, the question of whether we should 
keep giving

[[Page 6355]]

away money to oil companies that clearly do not need taxpayer handouts. 
That will be part of a larger debate we will continue having about how 
best to reduce our reliance on foreign oil and invest better and 
smarter in clean energy.
  Three, we will vote on the House-passed budget. A majority of the 
House has embraced it, a majority of the American people have rejected 
it, and the Senate will soon have its say.
  Finally, we will confirm judicial nominees, many of whom we have 
waited a long time for in the Senate. If the minority forces us to file 
cloture on those nominees in order to get a final vote, I will file 
cloture. I think it is too bad if we get involved in this with trial 
court judges. We cannot waste any more time or play these games for a 
longer period of time. The country needs these empty benches filled.
  We also have other nominations to confirm, including the Attorney 
General's top Deputy, No. 1 Deputy, Jim Cole. The Deputy Attorney 
General runs the day-to-day operations of the Department of Justice. He 
is also the person who signs the critical warrants to permit our 
intelligence officials to conduct surveillance on suspected terrorists. 
But he cannot do that unless the Senate confirms him. So we must do 
that soon.
  Especially given last night's developments, it is unthinkable that 
partisanship and legislative ploys would keep a well-qualified nominee 
out of this important national security role.
  A moment ago we began this remarkable new day in the Senate the same 
way we begin every day in session. We begin it with the Pledge of 
Allegiance to our flag. Its closing words were the powerful closing 
words of President Obama's address to the Nation last night. Their 
meaning is even more profound today, the first day of this new era.
  The words ``liberty and justice for all'' represent America's 
purpose. This weekend, in the name and pursuit of liberty, heroic 
Americans halfway around the world secured justice for an evil man's 
victims, for the survivors of his terror, for Americans, their allies, 
and the entire world. ``Liberty and justice for all.''

                          ____________________