Vermont's top elected officials, Seantors Patrick Leahy and Bernie Sanders, Rpresentative Peter Welch and Governor Peter Shumlin, offered these remarks in reactioni to President Obama's announcement that Osama Bin Laden had been killed Sunday by US special forces in Pakistan.
Senator Leahy
May 1, 2011
When Secretary Clinton called me at home to alert me that the President would be announcing that Bin Laden was dead, many thoughts and emotions came quickly to the surface.
I thought of the countless lives ended and disrupted by this malevolent figure. Thousands of Americans and thousands more of other nationalities were innocent victims of his self-righteous venom, and so many brave men and women have died in the struggle to bring him to justice. Our thoughts and prayers again are with the 9-11 families and our service members overseas.
We are also mindful of the need for continued vigilance.
It is an appropriate end of a life misspent fomenting hate, death and destruction.
Senator Sanders
US Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today (May2) on the operation in Pakistan that killed Osama bin Laden:
‘The death of Osama bin Laden is a historic moment in our fight against international terrorism and his Al Qaeda organization.
‘I applaud the extraordinary bravery of those American military personnel who participated in this highly-effective operation, the intelligence operation that made it possible and the leadership of President Obama. At this moment, we also must not forget the American men and women from Vermont and around the country whose service and sacrifice in the struggle to defend our country has made us safer.’
‘It is impossible to predict the future, but I hope the death of Osama bin Laden and the growth of democratic movements in the Muslim world mark a momentous turning point, which leads the region toward peace and prosperity and away from terrorism, death and destruction.’
Representative Welch
Representative Peter Welch issued the following statement after the announcement by President Obama that Osama bin Laden has been killed in Pakistan in an American military operation:
"At long last, the mastermind of the September 11th attack on America has been brought to justice. Tonight's announcement by President Obama is welcome news to all Vermonters and all Americans, especially to the families and loved ones of those murdered by Osama bin Laden on September 11, 2001. I know I join all Vermonters in the hope that this news will in some way ease the heavy burden still weighing on these families. And I am especially mindful tonight of the Vermont soldiers who have sacrificed their lives in support of America's response to this senseless act of terrorism. While we anxiously await the details of the operation that sealed bin Laden's fate, it is clear that its success is a testament to the bravery, persistence and dedication of the men and women of America's armed services."
Governor Shumlin
‘Our military troops deserve our highest praise for bringing Osama bin Laden to justice. When I heard the news of his death, my thoughts turned immediately to the hundreds of Vermonters in the armed forces who have served our nation in Iraq and Afghanistan in the years since the bin Laden-led attacks of 9/11. Our state and our nation are grateful to those troops, whose collective actions have weakened Al Qaeda and helped lead to yesterday's successful operation in Pakistan.’
Vermont reaction to death of Osama Bin Laden
Submitted by tim
on