側近の兄弟突き止めで重大転機 対ビンラディン容疑者作戦 2011/05/02 18:43
http://www.47news.jp/CN/201105/CN2011050201000772.html
【ワシントン共同】米軍が1日に行った国際テロ組織アルカイダ指導者ウサマ・ビンラディン容疑者殺害作戦は、同容疑者への直接的な支援を行う側近で兄弟の2人を突き止めたことにより重大な転機を迎えたことが2日までに分かった。オバマ政権高官が明らかにした。米当局は昨年8月に厳重に警備された隠れ家を発見、慎重な検討の末に今年3月、今回の作戦を立案した。
オバマ大統領がテロとの戦いの「最優先事項」として同容疑者の行方を追っていただけに作戦は失敗が許されず、極めて周到に計画されてきたことが示された。
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ホワイトハウスで行った声明発表は以下の通り。(英文)
http://jp.wsj.com/US/Politics/node_230828
For Immediate Release May 1, 2011
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT
ON OSAMA BIN LADEN
East Room
11:35 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: Good evening. Tonight, I can report to the American people
and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that
killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda, and a terrorist who’s
responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children.
It was nearly 10 years ago that a 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; the 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 were forced to
grow up without their mother or their father. Parents who would never know
the feeling of their child’s embrace. Nearly 3,000 citizens taken from
us, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts.
On September 11, 2001, in 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
Osama 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 10 years, thanks to the tireless and heroic work of our military
and our counterterrorism professionals, 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 Osama 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 Panetta, 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 of Pakistan. And finally, last week, I determined that we had enough
intelligence to take action, and authorized an operation to get Osama 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 Osama 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
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’s 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 never
will be -? at war with Islam. I’ve 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’ve repeatedly made clear that we would take action within
Pakistan if we knew where bin Laden was. That is what we’ve done. But
it’s important to note that our counterterrorism cooperation with Pakistan
helped lead us to bin Laden and the compound where he was hiding. Indeed,
bin Laden had declared war against Pakistan as well, and ordered attacks
against the Pakistani people.
Tonight, I called President Zardari, and my team has also spoken with their
Pakistani counterparts. They agree that this is a good and historic day
for both of our nations. And going forward, it is essential that Pakistan
continue 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 the senseless slaughter of our citizens. After nearly 10 years
of service, struggle, and sacrifice, we know well the costs of war. These
efforts weigh on me every time I, as Commander-in-Chief, have to sign a
letter to a family that has lost a loved one, or look into the eyes of
a service member who’s been gravely wounded.
So Americans understand the costs of war. Yet as a country, we will never
tolerate our security being threatened, nor stand idly by when our people
have been killed. We will be relentless in 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 who have
lost loved ones to al Qaeda’s terror: Justice has been done.
Tonight, we give thanks to the countless intelligence and counterterrorism
professionals who’ve worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome. The American
people do not see their work, nor know their names. But tonight, they feel
the satisfaction of their work and the result of their pursuit of justice.
We give thanks for the men who 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 borne the
heaviest share of the burden since that September day.
Finally, let me say to the families who lost loved ones on 9/11 that we
have never forgotten your loss, nor wavered 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 America can do whatever we set our mind to. That
is the story of our history, whether it’s the pursuit of prosperity for
our people, or the struggle for equality for all our citizens; our commitment
to stand up for our values abroad, and 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. May God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America