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Obama Visits SEALs Behind Closed Doors
By
Christopher Robbins
Published May 7, 2011
Modified May 7, 2011
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published May 7, 2011
Modified May 7, 2011
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President Obama met with the members of the elite Navy SEAL unit that executed the raid on Osama Bin Laden's compound and killed the terrorist leader, before giving a speech to the soldiers at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, CBS reports. The meeting, which took place behind closed doors, was held so that the president could "offer his personal admiration and gratitude for our servicemembers." The president also gave the SEALs the Presidential Unit Citation, which is "the highest such honor that can be given to a unit." It's unclear whether the "war dog" received a citation as well.
As part of what the Times calls "a choreographed victory lap" for Obama, his speech honored "America's quiet professionals whose success demands secrecy…and when I gave the order they were ready. In recent days, the whole world has learned just how ready they were." Vice President Biden also spoke, telling the soldiers that the raid was "one of the gutsiest" in history.
Acknowledging the large cache of information found in the compound, Obama assured the soldiers that "our strategy is working," while honoring the 125 men and women from Fort Campbell who had "made the ultimate sacrifice" and been killed in action.
Tagged
Osama bin Laden
president obama
seals
terrorism
war dog
war on terror
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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