Is PEBO Changing the Goal When it Comes to Capturing or Killing bin Laden?
EmailIn an interview with Katie Couric to air on CBS Evening News tonight, President-elect Obama uses new language when discussing how critical it is to capture or kill Osama bin Laden — language that seems to cast the capture or killing of Osama bin Laden as less critical than he once said it was.
Today Mr. Obama said the following when asked what he will do differently to bring Osama bin Laden to justice.
OBAMA: "Well, I think– I talked frequently during this campaign that we took our eye off the ball when we invaded Iraq. And now it’s done. My job is to withdraw in a responsible way from Iraq and stabilize the situation there. But our real focus has to be on Afghanistan, the border regions between Afghanistan and Pakistan. And we have to put as much pressure on them as possible. I’ve already spoken to my National Security team about how we’re going to do that. And I’m confident that we can keep them on the run and ensure that they cannot train terrorists to attack our homeland. That’s my number one priority as President of the United States."
COURIC: "How important do you think it is, Mr. President-elect, to apprehend Osama bin Laden?"
OBAMA: "I think that we have to so weaken his infrastructure that, whether he is technically alive or not, he is so pinned down that he cannot function. My preference obviously would be to capture or kill him. But if we have so tightened the noose that he’s in a cave somewhere and can’t even communicate with his operatives then we will meet our goal of protecting America."
Video can be watched HERE. (Please excuse the commercial for the sitcom "Gary, Unmarried")
Mr. Obama’s language today seems to lower the bar on how critical he thinks it is to capture or kill bin Laden.
On 60 Minutes on November 16, 2008, Steve Kroft asked the President-elect "Where does capturing or killing Osama bin Laden fall" in terms of military priorities, Mr. Obama responded: "I think it is a top priority for us to stamp out al Qaeda once and for all. And I think capturing or killing bin Laden is a critical aspect of stamping out al Qaeda. He is not just a symbol, he’s also the operational leader of an organization that is planning attacks against US targets."
In both instances, Mr. Obama emphasizes bin Laden’s role as operational leader of a terrorist group, but in November he said capturing or killing OBL was "critical." Today he said it would be his "preference" though cutting OBL off from communication with his operatives would meet his goal.
– jpt
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To be honest, I see the skepticism that Bin Laden is even alive in his 2nd answer.
Posted by: Ryan C | January 14, 2009, 6:40 pm 6:40 pm
How is this changing the goal? Senior Bush administration officials admitted that they quit looking for Bin Laden. Bush himself said he didn’t “spend much time thinking about him.”
The fact that Obama wants to go in there and choke Bin Laden out is already a ratcheting up. And I’m all for it. It’s how we should have been operating all along. Well done, Barack!
Posted by: ElodieStClair | January 14, 2009, 6:41 pm 6:41 pm
I think this nation will soon find out that our president elect will be “backing up” on alot of issues. Everyone is looking at him for change and I hope for the sake of this nation, his idea and America’s idea is the same and not some hidden agenda. I have lost a lot of respect for him for disrespecting our current president so obviously and by his comments. Bush may not have been the greatest president of all times but he deserves to go out with a modicum of respect. I guess everyone also chooses to forget the 911 attacks and that the very soldiers they insult regarding the war in Iraq are protecting us from what could be further attacks. And all this glory for a president elect who won’t even raise his hand to our flag. Shame on him and those who follow so BLINDLY.
Posted by: Kroyal | January 14, 2009, 7:08 pm 7:08 pm
“I guess everyone also chooses to forget the 911 attacks and that the very soldiers they insult regarding the war in Iraq are protecting us from what could be further attacks.”
Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 and Iraq was not planning on attacking us.
But like a true right winger you use the valor of American service men and women to hide behind while you tell lies.
Posted by: Ryan C | January 14, 2009, 7:11 pm 7:11 pm
“whether he is technically alive or not”
“Technically”?
Obama knows bin Laden has been dead for years.
So why the charade? Who is making these tapes?
The “War on Terror” has been a massive fraud to justify resource wars of aggression and a bonanza for the Pentagon and the spooks, and bin Laden has been its official bogeyman.
Posted by: dragon | January 14, 2009, 7:11 pm 7:11 pm
“And all this glory for a president elect who won’t even raise his hand to our flag.”
Raise his hand?
Don’t you mean place his hand over his heart?
Raising his hand would be a different salute, would it not?
Posted by: Ryan C | January 14, 2009, 7:15 pm 7:15 pm
Obama is the twin brother of Bush.
Posted by: kennedy | January 14, 2009, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm
The campaign is over and now those silly promises look, well, silly. Nabbing bin Laden was never of vital importance to the overall GWOT. Why do you think Bush/Cheney toned down the “dead or alive” rhetoric? I mean besides the fact that they really couldn’t get him…
Posted by: matt | January 14, 2009, 7:19 pm 7:19 pm
Obama is going to let the terrorist run all over us. He’s too much of a pacifist to do otherwise.
Posted by: ellsbells930 | January 14, 2009, 7:28 pm 7:28 pm
Bush said something similar, of course he caught hell for it but the more attention we show to OBl the more important people will think he is. One day though it would be nice to know that he suffered a fate, far worse than death, from our troops.
“Of course we hope no torture will be involved”
Posted by: david | January 14, 2009, 8:07 pm 8:07 pm
obama’ presidency will be made if he catches bin laden and puts bush and cheney in levenworth
Posted by: oh my lord | January 14, 2009, 8:17 pm 8:17 pm
PEBO has a gift for obfuscating communication!
You will never know what he is really saying or how he will rephrase…! :(
Posted by: aware2u | January 14, 2009, 8:18 pm 8:18 pm
“To be honest, I see the skepticism that Bin Laden is even alive in his 2nd answer. ”
Keep up- Osama just sent a message to Obama.
“Today he said it would be his “preference” though cutting OBL off from communication with his operatives would meet his goal.
”
Probably correct. If OBL made his number 1 priority not being caught, he could hide in a cave with a years worth of MREs, water and one or two henchmen. He would be completely in effective but almost impossible to find.
Posted by: BertieW | January 14, 2009, 8:29 pm 8:29 pm
Some guy recently wrote an editorial in our local paper thanking the voters for electing Obama. In reality, he should have thanked the news and entertainment media instead of the SHEEP who watch that stuff. Without the media’s support, Obama would have had no chance. I do wish Obama well, but the voters, this time, made a big mistake – hope that it was not a fatal one.
Posted by: Manitu | January 14, 2009, 8:30 pm 8:30 pm
There should be some skepticism about bin Laden’s being still alive. A month before Benazir Bhutto was assassinated, she gave an interview to David Frost. She said there were certain Islamic extremists who wanted her gone and that she had sent a letter of concern to Musharaff about it, specifying financiers of the groups who could be behind an assassination attempt. During the course of the interview, she brought up that bin Laden’s assassin could be a figure involved the attempt. She also mentioned Hazam bin Laden, bin Laden’s son, as another potential suspect. So maybe it’s Hazam that should be focused on, instead of his phantom like father, who according to the interview, was assassinated over 7 years ago.
Posted by: kat | January 14, 2009, 8:33 pm 8:33 pm
elodiestclair…
“The fact that Obama wants to go in there and choke Bin Laden out is already a ratcheting up. And I’m all for it. It’s how we should have been operating all along. Well done, Barack!”
you dont seem to get the point. the point is, that now that obama got his victory, HE IS CHANGING ALL HIS STATEMENTS ON THE ISSUES!!! he is not so strong when talking about capturing or killing obama now.. he says closing gitmo “might take awhile” now… he says the “economy is going to get worse before it gets better” now… the list goes on and on of the things he has “backed down” on. all these things that he would have NEVER in a million years, eluded to on his campaign.. this isnt speculation, these are his own words! yet you applaud him for changing his tone on the issues all of a sudden.. then again, joe biden changed his mind on obama after 12 months on the campaign trail, so anything is possible i guess.. lol
Posted by: tim | January 14, 2009, 8:36 pm 8:36 pm
wonder why bush didn’t try to catch bin laden?
Posted by: oh my lord | January 14, 2009, 8:47 pm 8:47 pm
Well, he got what he watned — elected president, by pulling the wool over a complicit, compliant media and an adoring public too eager for change to look at the details.
Of course he’s changing the rules!
Posted by: Liz | January 14, 2009, 10:06 pm 10:06 pm
Bush had 7 years to capture and kill Bin Laden but failed to accomplish it. What is that about?
Posted by: pefros | January 14, 2009, 10:54 pm 10:54 pm
Now that “the one” has got himself elected , he can go back to voting present on all the important issues.Come on people just let the guy finish his waffle.
Posted by: Cheney | January 14, 2009, 11:39 pm 11:39 pm
The change has ocurred. Now that elected Obama has been briefed, he is reset. This is not a government of the people. The document needs to be rewritten, “Of the corporation, by the corporation, for the corporation.” Watch the movie Walle and look for the B n L, see the logo when the human big guy talks? Bin Laden and Bush have been in league with each other for a long time. Laden isn’t a terrorist, he is a CEO. The infrastructure of corporate elitists has been set.
Posted by: clancy49 | January 15, 2009, 6:02 am 6:02 am
I heard there was a fatwa issued by a moderate Muslim imam to start a jihad against bin Laden for distorting the image of Islam. Does anyone know if this is true?
Posted by: Chris76543 | January 15, 2009, 8:52 am 8:52 am
Chris – It’s not the moderate Muslims who have been inciting jihad. It’s not true outside the imagination.
Posted by: kat | January 15, 2009, 12:15 pm 12:15 pm
perfos,
Instead of whining like a 2-yr old that its all Bush’s fault. Grow a set and ask the questions of your Pres.-Elect that you & your liberal cronies kept asking over & over of Bush.
WHAT IS THE EXIT STRATEGY FOR OPERATIONS IN AFGANISTAN?
Why is it you liberals refuse to hold your guy up to the same questions you complain about when its a Republican in the Oval Office.
Talk about a bunch of cry-babies. Suck up liberals, you won, now learn what it like to deal with reality!
Posted by: Mike_C | January 15, 2009, 12:46 pm 12:46 pm
“I heard there was a fatwa issued by a moderate Muslim imam to start a jihad against bin Laden for distorting the image of Islam.”
A fatwa would seem to be incompatible with the description of moderate.
Posted by: Ryan C | January 15, 2009, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm
Obama knows bin Laden has been dead for years.
Posted by: dragon | Jan 14, 2009 7:11:44 PM
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Guess the “chosen one” has been advised
of the death by his heavenly advisor.
Gee he is the smartest *** in the world.
Maybe he will get more information: how to keep us safe. When the checks will go out to pay our utilities, gas,food
and house payments. And, sure he will be getting a loan from “on high” to pay for all his promises. You have been ‘hoodwinked’ like lot and lots of folks.
Posted by: Mildred | January 15, 2009, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm
“Why is it you liberals refuse to hold your guy up to the same questions you complain about when its a Republican in the Oval Office.”
ROFLMAO.
A hypocrite accusing others of hypocrisy…how rich!
Posted by: Ryan C | January 15, 2009, 3:09 pm 3:09 pm
Ryan,
any particular reason why you can’t ever answer the question, or might it just be that you have no answers…..kinda like Obama….he’s got that “change” thing going well….looks every day more & more like he has figured out Bush was right about more things than you libbies want to admit…LOL
Posted by: Mike_C | January 15, 2009, 4:24 pm 4:24 pm