Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, offered the Motion to Recommit to H.R. 745, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2011, joined by Reps. Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX).  The Motion (attached as a PDF) honors all of those responsible for the successful mission to locate and bring Osama bin Laden to justice, and commends the U.S. Intelligence Community, Navy SEALS, Presidents Barack Obama, George Bush, Bill Clinton, and all of those involved in the operation over many years.  It also states to the U.S. Intelligence Community that the highest priority for funding in the bill is the disruption, dismantlement, and defeat of Al Qaeda.

“I am outraged by the unwillingness of Republican Members of Congress to lend their support to the amendment I offered today,” said Nadler.  “I strongly believe that GOP opposition is solely based on a politically-motivated refusal to credit President Obama for accomplishing the mission to kill Osama bin Laden.  The successful May 1st mission against bin Laden and Al Qaeda represents a historic chapter in American history and foreign policy.  Through the painstaking and covert gathering of intelligence, the implementation of a sophisticated operational strategy, and the bravery of a handful of special forces, the United States has demonstrated its military might and sophistication, and its capacity to defeat its enemies.  This amendment honors all of those involved in finding bin Laden and achieving a critical mission.”

Nadler continued: “And if the GOP doesn’t think that the defeat of Al Qaeda is the Number 1 goal for our Intelligence Community, then what is?”

Nadler delivered the following remarks on the House floor in support of the Motion to Recommit:

“Mr. Speaker, on September 11, 2001, Osama bin Laden murdered almost 3,000 Americans in cold blood.  As the House Member representing Ground Zero, many of these innocent men, women, and children were my constituents and my friends.  Words cannot do justice to the human toll taken by this mass murder. 

“Of course, the attack on September 11th was part of a war Osama bin Laden and his terrorist organization, Al Qaeda, had declared long ago and waged against the United States for years.  After September 11th, we vowed as a nation to wage war against Al Qaeda and, in particular, to bring Osama bin Laden to justice.  When President Obama made his dramatic announcement almost two weeks ago that American troops had killed bin Laden, we knew that our country had finally fulfilled that part of the promise.

“While I supported and we passed an amendment today to commend our intelligence community for their role in eliminating bin Laden, I stand by my earlier statement that it was inadequate – this Motion to Recommit properly honors all of those responsible.  It appropriately commends everyone involved in the long road we took to bring bin Laden to justice – President Obama, Bush, and Clinton, our Navy SEALS, and our Intelligence Community.

“The death of Osama bin Laden was a triumphant victory, but our work is not done.  This final amendment reminds us that we cannot rest on our laurels – the threat of Al Qaeda remains real and continuing. 

“That is why in this final amendment we make clear to our intelligence community that the highest priority for funding in this bill is the disruption, dismantlement, and defeat of Al Qaeda.  We must focus on the materials captured from bin Laden’s compound, so we can stop them from striking again.  I urge my colleagues to join us to ensure that we continue to do all we can to avoid another 9/11.

“In closing, I want to state my hope that that we could have a bipartisan show of support for this Motion to Recommit.  Commending those who worked so hard to bring justice to bin Laden and recognizing that our number one intelligence priority is the defeat of Al Qaeda should be expressions that can be supported across the political spectrum.  I urge support for the amendment.”

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