President Obama: Osama bin Laden, Mastermind of 9/11 Terror Attacks, is Dead

Nearly 10 years after the Sept. 11 attacks, President Obama announced Sunday night that their mastermind, Osama bin Laden, had been killed.

In a nationally televised speech, Obama said he authorized an operation last week “to get Osama bin Laden and bring him to justice.”

He said the U.S. launched a targeted operation in Pakistan on Sunday. “After a firefight, they killed Osama bin Laden and took custody of his body,” the president said. No Americans were harmed.

In the decade since the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, 126 members of the armed forces from Washington state have died in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Another 1,099 have been wounded in action as of April 25, according to the Department of Defense.

At least one serviceman from Bellevue died in Afghanistan. Army Spc. Joseph V. White, 21, was killed in 2009 in Omar Zai, according to the Defense Department.

Roughly 1,000 troops from Joint Base Lewis-McChord are deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan currently, said base spokesman Joseph Piek.

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., released a statement Sunday night:

"The President's announcement tonight is tremendous news for all Americans and for counterterrorism efforts worldwide. The superb work of our military and intelligence communities have led to the death of the mastermind of the worst attack in our nation's history.  It is indeed a great moment.

"I applaud our troops, intelligence operatives, and the Administration for never wavering in this important goal in the broader war on terrorism. 

"This is a particularly important day for the thousands of Americans who lost a family member, friend or loved one nearly ten years ago. And all of our thanks go to those who have been lost in our military efforts and to our veterans and their families.  

"This is indeed a significant moment and one that will continue to propel our efforts to root out terrorists wherever they reside.  We must continue to remain vigilant and focused on the protection of the American people."

U.S. Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Wash., also released a statement about the news:

“This event is a milestone in a decade-long global war on terror,” Reichert said.

“Thanks to the bravery and courage of our military men and women, Osama bin Laden will no longer be able to encourage violence and do harm to those whose only supposed crime is valuing freedom. Justice was served and the world is a safer place without this monster. Again, I thank our military and intelligence personnel for their service and sacrifice. This would not have been possible without their diligence and commitment to this essential mission.”

Todd Beamer High School in Federal Way was named after one of the 9/11 victims. Beamer was a passenger aboard United Airlines Flight 93 who stood up to the terrorists aboard the plane before it crashed.

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