Biden’s First Remarks on Death of OBL: Breathtaking, Staggering Undertaking

ABC News’ Arlette Saenz reports:

In a speech Tuesday night, Vice President Joe Biden made his first remarks on the “staggering undertaking” that resulted in the death of Osama bin Laden.

“Those brave professionals who tracked and killed Osama bin Laden, it was just actually breathtaking,” Biden said in a keynote address at the Atlantic Council Dinner.  “It was a staggering undertaking, even with no one else other than the American group of military warriors who could do it.  The world is a safer place today not only for the American people, but for all people.”

The vice president commended the intelligence community, CIA and Navy SEALs for their extraordinary work, along with the administration officials and as many as 16 members of Congress who kept a tight lid on the details of the mission in the months leading up to the event. 

“What was even more extraordinary was – and I’m sure former administration officials would appreciate this more than anyone — there was such an absolute overwhelming desire to accomplish this mission that although for over several months we were in the process of planning it, and there were as many as 16 members of Congress that were briefed on it, not a single solitary thing leaked.”

Biden also expressed gratitude for the support and reactions from across the world, adding that the United States’ thoughts and prayers rested with the innocent victims of terror.

The vice president said the United States’ ability to kill the world’s most-wanted man sends a clear message to the world regardless of political affiliation.

“I think one clear message has gone out to the world," he said. "There’s no place to hide. There’s no place you can hide.  [If] the United States decides from one administration to the next that we will, in fact, reach a goal, we reach the goal.  We are determined, and we will relentlessly, without any hesitation follow on that commitment, Democrat or Republican.”

 - Arlette Saenz