“You Can Run, But You Can’t Hide!”

“You Can Run, But You Can’t Hide!”
On September 15, 2001, President George W. Bush, standing on the rubble of the World Trade Center, rallied the American people after the worst terrorist attack in the history of the United States.  As a Presidential candidate, Barack Obama promised to go after Osama bin Laden, even in Pakistan.  Both Bush and Obama deserve some credit for finding and killing Osama bin Laden, but this wasn’t a political victory, it was a victory for America over evil.  Only cowards intentionally kill civilian men, women, and children as the Islamic terrorists do.

Ironically, it was the information obtained via the waterboarding of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the architect of the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, as well as the waterboarding of Bin Laden’s courier, that provided the information needed to track down the terrorist and on May 1, 2011 send him to the depths of Hell.  President Obama deserves credit for having the fortitude to give the go-ahead for an operation independent of Pakistan leaders just 40 miles from Islamabad.  Had we consulted Pakistan leaders, Bin Laden most surely would have been alerted and he would have escaped.  Instead, his body now lies on the floor of the ocean.

While I’m thankful to both President Bush who executed the war on terrorism against strong political headwinds, and to President Obama for staying the course, this was an American victory.  Those who really deserve credit are those who captured Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the courier of Bin Laden, those who successfully interrogated him, and the Navy Seals who courageously and successfully carried out the mission.  God bless our men and women in uniform.

And let us not forget those thousands of brave young Americans who have given their lives in the war on terrorism, or those who died on 9/11 at the hands of despicable cowards.  The wives, children, mothers and fathers of those who have died on 9/11 or in battle have a loss that can never be satisfied, but their loved ones have now been avenged by death of Bin Laden. 

Let us also pause to salute the tens of thousands who volunteered after 9/11 to carry forward the war on terrorism.  They are the noblest and most courageous of our American citizens and deserve our thanks and appreciation for putting their lives on the line so that you and I can live in freedom.  They, not the politicians or bureaucrats, carry the burden of keeping America safe. 

The war on terrorism goes on and more will die because there will always be fanatics who for any number of reasons wish to rule the world and gain power over others.  Americans must remain ever vigilant and on guard so that our nation does not suffer another 9/11 attack.  And the only way to do that is to hunt down terrorists wherever they are and kill them.  There is no other solution.

America now needs statesmen, not politicians, who will fulfill their Constitutional oath to protect and defend the United States of America.  It is the first and most important Constitutional responsibility of every federal officer, especially the President of the United States.  May he or she never fail us.