Congressman Jeff Fortenberry

Fortenberry Statement on Death of Osama bin Laden

May 02, 2011

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Jeff Fortenberry released the following statement regarding the announcement of Osama bin Laden's death.

"America and much of the world have waited for the day when Osama bin Laden would be stopped.

"Osama bin Laden led Al Qaeda through more than two decades of indiscriminate bloodletting. Nearly 3,000 Americans were left dead in his most extreme act of violence, on September 11, 2001. We all recall where we were on that fateful day, and our drive for justice and for peace for his victims has remained constant.

"We rooted out the last vestiges of the Taliban in Afghanistan's government, and searched the world over for those who did us harm. Through nearly ten years, Osama bin Laden eluded capture. His death is not the end of our efforts, though it gives some closure to those who lost loved ones on 9/11, at the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole and two U.S. embassies in East Africa, and in attacks on U.S. forces in Somalia.

"We should recognize the brave efforts of those military and security forces personnel who conducted this mission, and all those who serve and have served us in the U.S. military. Their work is not done; it is naive to hope that this will end terrorist threats and violence. But for a moment we can take a breath of relief--for it has been long in coming."

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