[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Pages 6766-6767]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           HONORING THE MILITARY AND INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITIES

  Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, I was pleased to join Senate Majority 
Leader Reid and Republican Leader McConnell in offering the strongest 
possible support for the Senate resolution honoring our heroic military 
and intelligence communities responsible for carrying out the mission 
that resulted in the death of one of the most reviled murderers and 
nefarious menaces of our time--Osama bin Laden.
  As a senior member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I 
cannot begin to commend our Armed Forces and intelligence professionals 
enough for their absolutely exceptional and flawless heroism in 
conducting the most perilous and consequential of operations. With the 
highest level of perseverance, professionalism, service, and sacrifice 
conceivable, our bravest and finest joined forces and brought the day 
of reckoning and justice that long awaited this wretched terrorist.
  This landmark event is indeed a significant stride in the war on 
terrorism. Since 9/11, the efforts of our tireless and dedicated Armed 
Forces and intelligence operators have sought to keep our homeland safe 
and make the world more secure. On May 1, 2011, these efforts 
culminated in the death of one of terrorism's global leaders, marking a 
decisive milestone in the war against terror. We are blessed with such 
brave and valiant men and women serving this country at home and 
abroad. These heroes have made selfless sacrifices and put their lives 
on the line for our Nation. While we are sleeping at night, they are 
fighting on our behalf. During this now-legendary May 1 raid, their 
mettle and courage were brought to the forefront for all the world to 
see.
  As a result of the horrendous events of September 11, 2001, that are 
etched upon our consciousness for all time, we will never be the same. 
Out of the rubble of September 11 rose our resolve, out of despair grew 
our determination, and out of the hate that was perpetrated upon us 
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 the most daunting of circumstances. The resilience we 
recaptured as a country remains pressed upon our national psyche and 
the memory of the inspirational sacrifices of so many heroic Americans 
who perished that September morning will forever have a home in our 
hearts and our prayers.
  I think about all of the servicemen and women who willingly joined 
the military specifically to fight because of what happened on 9/11, 
and the sacrifices of their families and the lives that have been lost. 
Today, and every

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day, we express immeasurable gratitude to the over 6,000 Americans in 
Iraq and Afghanistan who have given their lives to make the world a 
safer place. Without their vital contributions, we could not have 
achieved this milestone today. This resolution will stand as a 
testament that without the stalwart efforts and unwavering dedication 
of our valorous men and women in uniform and within our intelligence 
community, this threshold moment in our nation's history would not have 
been possible.
  While justice has been brought to the face of terrorism for the last 
decade, we must remain vigilant. In the aftermath of bin Laden's death, 
the threat posed by al-Qaida and other terrorist groups continues real 
and unabated--and we must remain on high alert. British statesman 
Edmund Burke once famously said ``all that is necessary for the forces 
of evil to win in the world is for enough good men to do nothing.'' 
These heroic patriots whom we laud today tracked their target with 
precision, preparation, and patience, as well as an unmistakable sense 
of duty and valor reserved for only the best among us, and they 
delivered a death knell that will reverberate for generations to come.

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