Politicians rally around bin Laden's demise

Political leaders celebrated the announcement that Osama bin Laden had been killed on Sunday, congratulating American troops, the intelligence community and the White House for putting an end to the hunt for the mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks.

var data = blocks.columnist;if (data != undefined){document.getElementById('columnistmug').innerHTML=data;} Stephan Savoia, AP

Then-GOP presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., pauses after placing a wreath at the temporary United Flight 93 memorial in Shanksville, Pa., on Sept. 11, 2008.

Stephan Savoia, AP

Then-GOP presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., pauses after placing a wreath at the temporary United Flight 93 memorial in Shanksville, Pa., on Sept. 11, 2008.

The inability to find bin Laden has frustrated lawmakers throughout Washington for nearly a decade. While they almost uniformly responded with elation to the news, most also warned the terrorist threat is still very much alive.

Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., were both notified by Vice President Biden that bin Laden had been killed by American forces.

"Our nation owes a great debt of gratitude to our intelligence community and military for pursuing this manhunt for almost ten years and successfully eliminating the most high profile terrorist on earth," Durbin said in a statement. " hose who believed bin Laden and his network were invincible will now awaken to a new reality."

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, noted bin Laden's death was the work of two administrations. "I want to congratulate ? and thank ? the hard-working men and women of our armed forces and intelligence community for their tireless efforts and perseverance that led to this success," Boehner said. "I also want to commend President Obama and his team, as well as President Bush, for all of their efforts to bring Osama bin Laden to justice."

Former president Bill Clinton, who was in office during the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center, congratulated Obama and then wrote. "This is a profoundly important moment not just for the families of those who lost their lives on 9/11 and in al-Qaeda's other attacks but for people all over the world who want to build a common future of peace, freedom, and cooperation for our children."

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, stressed that while bin Laden's death was welcome news, it should not be seen as an act of vengeance.

"The killing of Osama bin Laden closes an important chapter in our war against extremists who kill innocent people around the world," he said in a statement. "We are a nation of peace and laws, and people everywhere should understand that our ten-year manhunt was in search of justice not revenge."

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the 2008 GOP presidential nominee, said in a statement: "I am overjoyed that we finally got the world's top terrorist. The world is a better and more just place now that Osama bin Laden is no longer in it. … But while we take heart in the news that Osama bin Laden is dead, we must be mindful that al-Qaeda and its terrorist allies are still lethal and determined enemies, and we must remain vigilant to defeat them"

Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., one of Obama's most vocal critics on national security issues, commended the president. "In 2001, President Bush said 'we will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail,'" King said in a statement. "President Bush deserves great credit for putting action behind those words. President Obama deserves equal credit for his resolve in this long war against al-Qaeda."

Even the field of GOP 2012 contenders, who have been among the most critical of the Obama administration's foreign and domestic policies, praised the mission and the White House.

"This is a great victory for lovers of freedom and justice everywhere. Congratulations to our intelligence community, our military and the president," former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney said in a statement.

Former Minnesota governor Tim Pawlenty called the announcement "terrific news for freedom and justice."

"In the hours after the 9/11 attacks, President Bush promised that America would bring Osama bin Laden to justice and we did," he said. "I want to congratulate America's armed forces and President Obama for a job well done."

Rep. Michele Bachmann, who is also a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said on her Twitter account,"A time to express our gratitude to the U.S. military for taking out Osama bin Laden."

Sarah Palin, the 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee, also tweeted: "Thank you, American men and women in uniform. You are America's finest and we are all so proud. Thank you for fighting against terrorism."

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