A year after a team of U.S. Navy SEALS went deep into Pakistan and killed Al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, President Obama is pushing back on charges that he is trying to capitalize on the one year anniversary of that operation for political gain.
Republicans complained bitterly in recent days about a campaign video released by the President's re-election team, which used the narration of former President Bill Clinton to salute Obama's leadership, with some arguing that Obama had to be convinced to take the chance deep inside Pakistan.
On Monday, the President was asked about the issue during a joint White House news conference with the leader of Japan.
Q Thank you, Mr. President. We're coming up on the one-year anniversary of the killing of bin Laden. I wonder if you would share some thoughts on that anniversary. And I also wanted to mention that your likely opponent says, "Anybody would have made that call, even Jimmy Carter." So I'm curious to see what you would say about that. And, Mr. Prime Minister, if I may, on the same topic, you mentioned the international fight against terrorism in your opening remarks, and I wonder if you could reflect on President Obama's record here and if you think from an international perspective the U.S. is playing it right in marking this anniversary? Or if you think it -- you might advise against excessive celebration?
PRESIDENT OBAMA: Well, let me make a couple of points. First of all, Christi, I hardly think that you've seen any excessive celebration taking place here. I think that people -- the American people rightly remember what we as a country accomplished in bringing to justice somebody who killed over 3,000 of our citizens. And it's a mark of the excellence of our intelligence teams and our military teams; a political process that worked.
And I think for us to use that time for some reflection to give thanks to those who participated is entirely appropriate, and that's what's been taking place.
As far as my personal role and what other folks would do, I'd just recommend that everybody take a look at people's previous statements in terms of whether they thought it was appropriate to go into Pakistan and take out bin Laden. I assume that people meant what they said when they said it. That's been at least my practice.
I said that I'd go after bin Laden if we had a clear shot at him, and I did. If there are others who have said one thing and now suggest they'd do something else, then I'd go ahead and let them explain it.
That last line was a reference to Mitt Romney, who sternly criticized then-Senator Obama in 2007, arguing against the idea of a strike inside Pakistani territory to get Bin Laden, without the agreement of the Pakistani government - exactly the scenario that played out a year ago.
Romney subsequently walked back his statement - but it is on the record and something the White House will try to bring up again and again this year.
