總統：晚上好。今晚，我可以向美國人民和世界報告，美國執行了一次軍事行動，擊斃「基地」組織的頭目、殺害成千上萬無辜男女和兒童的恐怖主義分子烏薩馬‧本拉登（Osama bin Laden）。
近10年前，九月的一個晴朗的日子由於美國人民遭受歷史上最慘痛的襲擊而變得黑暗。「9.11」的畫面深深地烙在我們民族的記憶中──被劫持的飛機劃破九月的晴空；雙塔倒塌在地；黑色濃煙從五角大樓滾滾冒出；賓州尚克斯維爾散落著93號航班的殘骸，英雄的公民以自己的行動避免了更多人的心碎和毀滅。
然而，我們知道，最悲慘的畫面並不為世界所見。飯桌前的空位子。那些在成長過程中被剝奪了母親或父親的孩子們。那些永遠無法再體驗到被孩子擁抱的感覺的父母。近3000名公民從我們身邊被奪走，在我們心中留下一個巨大的空洞。
2001年9月11日，在悲傷之時，美國人民團結在一起。我們向鄰居伸出援手，為傷者獻出鮮血。我們重申我們之間的親情以及我們對社區和祖國的熱愛。在那一天，不管我們來自哪裏、信奉何方神明、出身於甚麼種族或族裔，全體人民團結成一個美國大家庭。
我們也團結一心，決心保護我們的國家，把那些犯下這樁滔天罪行的凶手繩之以法。我們很快瞭解到，「9.11」襲擊事件是由「基地」組織所為──這個以烏薩馬‧本拉登為頭目的組織已經公開向美國宣戰，併發誓在我國和世界各地殘殺無辜。因此，我們向本拉登開戰，以保護我們的公民、我們的朋友和我們的盟友。
在過去10年中，由於我們的軍人和反恐人員不懈而英勇的努力，我們已經取得了長足的進展。我們挫敗了恐怖份子的襲擊，加強了我們的國土防禦。在阿富汗，我們剷除了向本拉登和「基地」組織提供庇護和支持的塔利班政權。在世界各地，我們與我們的朋友和盟國共同努力，抓獲和擊斃了眾多「基地」組織恐怖分子，其中包括參與策劃「9.11」陰謀的數名人員。
然而，本拉登逃脫了追捕，跨越阿富汗邊界逃入巴基斯坦。與此同時，「基地」組織沿該邊界繼續活動，並通過在全世界的分支機構繼續活動。
因此，我上任後不久即指示中央情報局局長萊昂‧帕內塔（Leon Panetta），在我們繼續全面摧毀、瓦解和擊敗本拉登網絡的同時，把擊斃或捕獲本拉登作為我們與「基地」組織作戰的首要任務。
後來，去年8月，經過情報機構多年的艱苦工作，我得到匯報說查到了本拉登的可能線索。當時遠遠不能肯定，經過許多個月才把線索落實。隨著我們就本拉登在巴基斯坦內地藏身的可能性得到更多情報，我多次與我的國家安全團隊開會。最後，在上週，我決定我們有足夠的情報採取行動，並下令採取行動抓獲本拉登以伸張正義。
今天，在我的指示下，美國對巴基斯坦阿伯塔巴德（Abbottabad)的那個院落採取了有針對性的行動。一個美國小分隊以非凡的勇氣和能力執行了這一行動。美國人無一傷亡。他們謹慎行事，避免平民傷亡。經過交火後，他們擊斃了烏薩馬‧本拉登並繳獲了他的屍體。
在超過二十年的時間裏，本拉登一直是「基地」組織的首腦和象徵，並繼續策劃對我國以及我們的朋友和盟國的襲擊。本拉登之死標誌著我國迄今為止在擊敗「基地」組織的努力中所取得的最重要的成就。
然而，我們的努力並沒有隨著他的死亡而終止。毫無疑問，「基地」組織還將繼續伺機攻擊我們。我們必須也必定在國內外保持警惕。
當我們這樣做的時候，我們必須重申，美國沒有也絕對不會對伊斯蘭教發動戰爭。我早就明確宣佈──布什總統在「9.11」事件發生後不久也曾宣佈──我們的戰爭並非針對伊斯蘭教。本拉登並非穆斯林領袖，相反，他是大規模屠殺穆斯林的凶手。事實上，「基地」組織在美國和許多其它國家屠殺了眾多穆斯林。所有愛好和平並相信人類尊嚴的人們都應當為他的壽終正寢而感到欣慰。
在過去幾年中，我一再重申，如果我們確認本拉登在巴基斯坦境內棲身，我們將採取行動。我們這次就是這麼做的。在此，我必須指出，我們與巴基斯坦在反恐事業上的合作幫助我們找到並確認了本拉登及其藏身之所。事實上，本拉登早就對巴基斯坦宣戰，並下令襲擊巴基斯坦人民。
今晚我已經同扎爾達裡（Zardari）總統通了電話，我的團隊也與巴基斯坦同行交換了意見。他們一致認為今天對美巴兩國人民來說都是一個值得紀念的歷史性日子。未來，巴基斯坦繼續與美國一起與「基地」組織及其分支機構進行鬥爭至關重要。
美國人民並不想打這場戰爭，它源於對我們國土的侵犯和對美國公民的無端殘殺。經過將近10年的奉獻、鬥爭和犧牲，我們深知戰爭的代價。作為美國三軍統帥，每次在給陣亡士兵家人的信上簽名時，每次看著身受重傷的軍人的眼睛時，我都感到沉重的壓力。
美國人民明白，戰爭會有代價。但是，作為一個國家，我們絕對不能容忍有人威脅我們的安全，也不能坐視我們的人民被殺害。我們將堅持不懈地保護我們的公民、朋友和盟友；我們將永遠忠實於我們的核心價值觀。在今天晚上這樣的時刻，我們能夠對那些在「基地」組織恐怖襲擊中失去親人的家庭說：正義得到了伸張。
今晚，我們要感謝為取得這一成果而不懈努力的無數情報和反恐人員。美國民眾看不到他們的工作，不知道他們的姓名。但在今晚，他們體會到這些努力的實效和追求正義的成果。
我們要感謝執行這次行動的人員，他們代表了所有為國效力者所具有的敬業精神、愛國情懷和無與倫比的勇氣。他們屬於自9月的那個日子以來承擔起最艱鉅責任的一代人。
最後，我要告訴在「9.11」事件中失去親人的所有家庭，我們從未忘記你們的損失，我們的決心也從未動搖，我們將採取一切必要措施防止另一次襲擊在我們這裡得逞。
今晚，讓我們回顧「9.11」時那種萬眾一心的感覺。我知道，這種感覺時而受到過干擾。但是今天的成果表明了我們國家的偉大和美國人民的決心。
保障我們國家安全的使命沒有終結。但是今晚，我們再次看到，美國人民能夠實現我們所致力於達到的目標。這是我們歷史的寫照──無論是追求人民生活繁榮，爭取全體公民的平等權利，勇於在海外維護我們的價值觀，還是為增進世界安全作出犧牲。
讓我們牢記，為我們帶來這些成就的不是財富或力量，而是我們的立國之本：一個受主庇佑的國家，不可分割，全民享有自由與公正。
謝謝。願主保佑你們。願主保佑美利堅合眾國。
（講話完）
（來源：美國國務院國際信息局 http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/iipdigital-mgck/index.html）
英文全文：
Obama on Death of Terrorist Osama bin Laden
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.
END
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/iipdigital-en/index.html)
