TPMDC

George W. Bush: I Congratulated Obama On The Death Of Bin Laden

Former President George W. Bush

Former president George W. Bush says he spoke with President Obama by phone this evening and congratulated him on the death of terrorist mastermind Osama bin Laden.

“I congratulated him and the men and women of our military and intelligence communities who devoted their lives to this mission,” Bush said of the conversation in a statement to reporters. “They have our everlasting gratitude.”

Bush called the killing of the man behind the 9/11 attacks by U.S. military forces in Pakistan Sunday “a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world.”

It was Bush who led the nation in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, and who kicked off the two wars that followed the attacks. He said the death of bin Laden is an important chapter in the post-9/11 story.

TPM SLIDESHOW: Osama Bin Laden: 9/11 Mastermind, Longtime U.S. Enemy Killed In Pakistan

“The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message,” Bush said. “No matter how long it takes, justice will be done.”

Read the whole statement:

Earlier this evening, President Obama called to inform me that American forces killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of the al Qaeda network that attacked America on September 11, 2001. I congratulated him and the men and women of our military and intelligence communities who devoted their lives to this mission. They have our everlasting gratitude. This momentous achievement marks a victory for America, for people who seek peace around the world, and for all those who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001. The fight against terror goes on, but tonight America has sent an unmistakable message: No matter how long it takes, justice will be done.

Top Stories From TPM

Oklahoma GOP Sen. Tom Coburn Will Seek To Offset Tornado Aid

Ohio Republicans Push Law To Penalize Colleges For Helping Students Vote

Secret Service Looking Into Radio Host’s Graphic Violent Comments About Obama, Hillary Clinton

VA GOP's Attorney General Nominee Wanted Women To Report Miscarriages To Police Or Face Jail Time

What Republicans Already Knew About The White House Benghazi Emails

The NRA Thinks These Are The ‘Coolest Gun Movies’ Ever

Disqus Conversations

Click here to read the Disqus Commenting FAQ.

Editor & Publisher

Josh Marshall

Managing Editor

David Kurtz

Associate Editor

Nick Martin

Assistant Editor

Igor Bobic

Reporters

Brian Beutler

Sahil Kapur

Eric Lach

Hunter Walker

Frontpage Editor

Zoë Schlanger

News Writers

Tom Kludt

Video Editor

Michael Lester

General Manager & General Counsel

Millet Israeli

VP, Ad Sales

Bruce Ellerstein

Associate Publisher

Kyle Leighton

Assistant To The Publisher

Joe Ragazzo

Designer/Developer

Matthew Wozniak

Design Associate

Christopher O’Driscoll