Statement by Congresswoman Waters on Death of Osama bin Laden

Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) issued the following statement after President Obama announced late last night that Osama bin Laden was killed in a raid by U.S. military and intelligence personnel:

"The death of Osama bin Laden, almost a decade after he orchestrated the murder of 3,000 innocent American citizens and foreign nationals, is a significant milestone and a welcome development in our fight against al Qaeda.

"President Obama, members of the Administration, and the men and women of our intelligence community and our armed forces are all to be commended for their leadership in bringing the mastermind of the devastating September 11th attacks – as well as the U.S. African embassy bombings, the attack on the U.S.S. Cole, and other deadly acts of terrorism against innocent people around the world – to justice.

"This is a significant day for people who believe in freedom, justice and peace around the world, but it should not diminish our efforts to focus on real security threats to our nation and our interests, or from bringing our men and women home from war in a timely manner."

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Congresswoman Waters and some of her colleagues in the Congressional Progressive Caucus wrote a letter to President Obama on May 4, renewing their call for a significant and sizeable reduction in U.S. troops in Afghanistan following the death of Osama bin Laden. Click on the link in the box above to view the letter.