TRANSCRIPT: Obama Announces the Killing of Bin Laden

President Barack Obama holds unscheduled news conference from the White House East Room on the death of Usama bin Laden.

--Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world, the United States has conducted an operation that killed Usama bin Laden, the leader of Al Qaeda, and a terrorist who is responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children. It was nearly ten years ago, that bright September day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history.

The images of 9/11 are seared into our national memory. Hijacked planes cutting through a cloudless September sky, twin towers collapsing to the ground, black smoke billowing up from the Pentagon.

The wreckage of flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania where the actions of heroic citizens saved even more heartbreak and destruction. And yet we know that the worst images are those that were unseen to the world: the empty seat at the dinner table, children who are forced to grow up without their mother or their father, parents who would never know the feeling of their child's embrace.

Nearly 3000 citizens taken from us, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts. September 11, 2001 and our time of grief, the American people came together. We offered our neighbors a hand and we offered the wounded our blood.

We reaffirmed our ties to each other and our love of community and country. On that day, no matter where we came from, what God we prayed to, or what race or ethnicity we were, we were united as one American family.

We were also united in our resolve to protect our nation, and to bring those who committed this vicious attack to justice. We quickly learned that the 9/11 attacks were carried out by Al Qaeda, an organization headed by Usama bin Laden which had openly declared war on the United States and was committed to killing innocents in our country and around the globe. And so we went to war against al Qaeda to protect our citizens, our friends, and our allies.

Over the last ten years, thanks to the tireless and heroic work of our military and our counterterrorism professions, we've made great strides in that effort. We've disrupted terrorist attacks and strengthened our homeland defense. In Afghanistan, we removed the Taliban government which had given bin Laden and al Qaeda safe haven and support.

And around the globe, we worked with our friends and allies to capture or kill scores of al Qaeda terrorists including several who were a part of the 9/11 plot. Yet, Usama bin Laden avoided capture and escaped across the Afghan border into Pakistan.

Meanwhile al Qaeda continued to operate from along that border and operate through its affiliates across the world. And so shortly after taking office, I directed Leon Pannetta, the director of the CIA, to make the killing or capture of bin Laden the top priority of our war against al Qaeda, even as we continued our broader efforts to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat his network.

Then, last August, after years of painstaking work by our intelligence community, I was briefed on a possible lead to bin Laden.

It was far from certain, and it took many months to run this thread to ground. I met repeatedly with my national security team as we developed more information about the possibility that we had located bin Laden hiding within a compound deep inside Pakistan. And finally, last week, I determined that we had enough intelligence to take action and authorized an operation to get Usama bin Laden and bring him to justice.

Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad Pakistan. A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability. No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Usama bin Laden and took custody of his body.

For over two decades, bin Laden has been al Qaeda's leader and symbol and has continued to plot attacks against our country and our friends and our allies. The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al Qaeda. Yet his death does not mark the end of our effort. There is no doubt that al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must and we will remain vigilant at home and abroad.

As we do, we must also reaffirm that the United States is not and will never be at war with Islam. I have made clear, just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11, that our war is not against Islam; bin Laden was not a Muslim leader. He was a mass murderer of Muslims. Indeed al Qaeda has slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries including our own.

So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity. Over the years I have repeatedly made clear that we would take action within Pakistan if we knew where bin Laden was. That is what we've done. But its important to note our counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan helped lead us to bin Laden.

And the compound where he was hiding. Indeed Bin Laden has declared war on Pakistan as well and ordered attacks against the Pakistani people. Tonight, I called President Zadari and my team has also spoken with their Pakistani counter parts. They agreed that this is a good and historic day for both of our nations. and going forward, it is essential that Pakistan continues to join us in the fight against Al-Qaeda and its affiliates.

The American People did not choose this fight. It came to our shores and started with teh senseless slaughter of our citizens. After nearly ten years of service, struggled and scarifice we know well the costs of war. These efforts weigh on me every time, as Commander in Chief, have to sign a letter to a family that has lost a loved one. Or look into the eyes of service member whose been gravely wounded. So Americans understand the costs of war.

Yet, as a country we will never tolerate our security being threatened or stand idley by when our people have been killed. We will be relentless in the defense of our citizens and our friends and allies. We will be true to the values that make us who we are. And on nights like this one, we can say to those families that lost loved ones to Al-Qaeda's terror, justice has been done.

Tonight we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counter-terrorism professionals who have worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome. The American people do not see their work nor known their names. But tonight, they feel the satisfaction of their work and their result of the pursuit of justice. We give thanks to the men that carried out this operation. For they exemplify the professionalism, patriotism, and unparalleled courage of those who serve our country. And they are part of a generation that has bourne the heaviest share of the burden since that September day.

Finally, let me say to the families that lost loved ones on 9/11. That We have never forgotten your loss. Nor waivered in our commitment to see that we do whatever it takes to prevent another attack on our shores. And tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11.

I know that it has at times frayed. Yet today's achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country. And the determination of the American people. The cause of securing our country is not complete but tonight we are once again reminded that Americans can do whatever we set our mind to. That is the story of our history. Whether its the pursuit of prosperity for our people. Or the struggle for equality for all our citizens. Or our commitment to stand up for our values abroad. Or our sacrifices to make the world a safer place.

Let us remember that we can do these things not just because of wealth or power, but because of who we are: One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, and God bless you, and may God bless, the United States of America.