By: Farias H.R. No. 1694
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, On September 11, 2001, Osama bin Laden, a sworn
enemy of the United States of America, coordinated a series of
monstrous and cowardly terrorist attacks that resulted in the
tragic loss of 2,977 innocent lives, leading to an engagement in a
war on terrorism, across many fronts;
WHEREAS, On May 1, 2011, after nearly ten years of bin Laden's
evasion of military and intelligence forces seeking his capture,
President Barack Obama declared to the nation and the world that bin
Laden had finally been killed, and that, "Justice has been done."
WHEREAS, The president's patience, leadership, wisdom, and
determination have led directly to the demise of the most wanted man
in the world, and have hardened this nation's resolve to defeat the
forces of malevolent fanaticism, and by destroying the mastermind
behind the worst terrorist attack on American soil he has struck a
significant and historic blow against Al Qaeda;
WHEREAS, Following the death of the perpetrator of the
attacks, the family members and friends of those who lost their
lives in the attacks on September 11 are able to achieve a greater
sense of closure;
WHEREAS, After months of meetings of the National Security
Council, led by President Obama who directed intelligence officials
to zero in on bin Laden's whereabouts, intelligence officials
devised and carefully carried out a clandestine operation, which
had frequently been rehearsed in an effort to minimize casualties,
both civilian and military;
WHEREAS, As Commander-in-Chief of our great nation, he boldly
gave the final authorization to commence the operation to brave and
highly trained members of our nation's armed services;
WHEREAS, Upon hearing the news of bin Laden's elimination, in
an impressive show of unity and in defiance of the fanatics who
still today seek to destroy our free way of life, jubilant citizens
expressed pride in our nation and our president by spontaneously
celebrating the news in cities across the country, singing "The
Star Spangled Banner" and loudly chanting "U-S-A", and former
presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush have offered him their
congratulations;
WHEREAS, Domestically, he has acted with both initiative and
organizational acumen toward the precautionary defense of our
citizens, and has successfully prevented a terrorist attack on
American soil during his service to our nation as president;
WHEREAS, Internationally, he has wisely exercised the use of
diplomacy to nurture collaborative relationships with other
nations, which has helped improve the freedom and safety of the
world's people; and
WHEREAS, President George W. Bush had the near universal
support of the freedom-loving peoples and countries of the world
after the attacks on September 11, 2001 when he famously pledged to
defend freedom against fear, saying, "We will not tire, we will not
falter, and we will not fail," and President Obama had the strength
and wherewithal to see that pledge through to fulfillment; and
WHEREAS, Legislators in Texas reaffirm the solemn creed that
we are one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice
for all, who stand strongly behind the president with respect to
these several issues as he confronts the grave problems of national
and international security; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby congratulate President Obama on his proven and successful
policies in the war on terrorism and in homeland security; and, be
it further
RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby commends the intelligence personnel who diligently and
quietly toiled for years to uncover the whereabouts of bin Laden,
and whose achievement, while historic, may never be fully known to
the public;
RESOLVED, That the 82nd Legislature of the State of Texas
hereby commends the members of the armed forces who successfully
and heroically carried out an incredibly sensitive mission with no
military losses and with a minimal loss of civilian lives;
RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official
copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to
the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the
senate of the United States Congress, to the governor of Texas, and
to all the members of the Texas delegation to the congress with the
request that this resolution be officially entered in the
Congressional Record as a memorial to the Congress of the United
States of America.