First Lady Michelle Obama said today that the U.S. military specialists who killed terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden showed 'the very essence' of public service. Mrs Obama made her first public remarks about Bin Laden's death during the commencement address at University of Northern Iowa.
U.S. officials have said Navy SEALs shot and killed Bin Laden and four others on Monday at his compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
'They did not hesitate': First lady Michelle Obama addresses the graduating class at the University of Northern Iowa during her commencement address today
Mrs Obama said: 'Just imagine, a small group of brave men, dropped by helicopter, half a world away in the dead of night, into unknown danger inside the lair of the most wanted man in the world.'
She told the graduating class at the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls: 'They did not hesitate, risking everything for us, for our freedom and security. And they did it not just as Navy SEALs. They did it as husbands, as fathers, as sons.
'Their families were back here, with no idea of their mission or whether their loved ones would ever come home.'
The First Lady evoked the SEALs' actions as part of a call for the graduating class to engage in public service after they leave the university.
standing ovation: Mrs Obama is applauded by academics as she waves to students after finishing her address
For posterity: Students record and take photo's of Mrs Obama's address during the commencement ceremony. She urged the students to engage in public service after graduation
she said: 'Now, that's the very essence of the word "service". And the least we can do is give something back to these troops and their families who have given us so much.'
the First Lady's address comes after President Barack Obama personally congratulated the troops who killed Osama Bin Laden and told them: 'Job well done.'
As part of a victory lap across America following the death of the Al Qaeda leader, the President privately met the troops with Vice President Joe Biden before speaking publicly to soldiers at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Despite criticism that he is now milking the death of Bin Laden for his own political gain, the President lapped up the cheers of hundreds of troops at the military base.
High five: Obama greets soldiers this afternoon to celebrate this week's historic mission in Pakistan
Triumphant: President Obama greets military personnel at Fort Campbell this afternoon
Obama's visit, which came just a day after he attended a very somber wreath-laying ceremony at Ground Zero, saw him receive a hero's welcome from soldiers, who whooped and clapped as the President walked in to thumping music before delivering his address.
The base is home to the Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, a unit nicknamed the 'Night Stalkers', which flew the mission that killed the Al Qaeda leader.
After an emphatic introduction by Vice President Joe Biden, in which he praised the President for his bravery in sanctioning the historic mission in Pakistan and labelled U.S. troops the 'most capable warriors in the history of the world', Obama took to the stage.
Glowing: The President rides the wave of support while speaking to troops this afternoon at Fort Campbell, Kentucky
Cheers: Obama looks pleased with himself as he addresses the troops, while Vice President Joe Biden proudly watches on
Looking relaxed and triumphant, wearing a shirt and tie but no jacket, he stormed: 'Hello, Fort Campbell!'
‘'What I really wanted to do was to shake some hands and to say thank you on behalf of America. This has been a historic week in the life of our nation. Thanks to the incredible skill and courage and convictions of individuals the terrorist Osama Bin Laden who struck our nation on 9/11 will never threaten America again’
Obama thanked the troops for the 'extraordinary leadership you've shown' before adding: 'On behalf of America and people around the world, job well done.'
The President also spoke dramatically about this week's historic mission in Pakistan and praised the 'skill' and 'courage' of the Navy SEALs who killed Bin Laden.
'I didn’t come here to make a really long speech – it’s hot,’ Mr Obama joked. ‘What I really wanted to do was to shake some hands and to say thank you on behalf of America. This has been a historic week in the life of our nation.
‘Thanks to the incredible skill and courage and convictions of individuals the terrorist leader who struck our nation on 9/11 will never threaten America again.’
Mr Obama went on to talk about his trip to New York City’s Ground Zero, describing how he laid a wreath at the site and met with firefighters and families of the victims of 9/11.
Hero's welcome: President Obama greets military personnel among a sea of cameras at Fort Campbell
Salute: Soldiers stand to attention during the Pledge of Allegiance prior to President Barack Obama's address
He said ‘I promise that our nation will never forget those who were lost that dark September day.’
Speaking about Sunday’s military operation Mr Obama added: ‘It’s a chance for me to say on behalf of all Americans and people all over the world: “job well done. Job well done.”’
''The bottom line is our strategy is working and there is no greater evidence of that than justice finally being delivered to Osama bin Laden’
‘Across Afghanistan we've broke the Taliban's momentum. We're building the capacity of Afghans, partnering with communities and police and security forces which are growing stronger.
‘Most of all we're making progress in our major goal in Pakistan and Afghanistan and that is disrupting and dismantling and we are going to ultimately defeat Al Qaeda. We have cut off their head and we will ultimately defeat them.
'The bottom line is our strategy is working and there is no greater evidence of that than justice finally being delivered to Osama bin Laden.’
The reference to 'cutting off' Al Qaeda's head follows comments on Tuesday from White House Counter Terrorism Chief John Brennan, who said that in killing Bin Laden, the U.S. had 'decapitated the head of the snake'.
Address; President Obama used an autocue during his rousing speech to troops at Fort Campbell
Packed: The gymnasium at Fort Campbell in which hundreds of troops welcomed President Obama and Vice President Biden
The President went on to heap further praise on the unit that managed to get Bin Laden: ‘They (Navy Seals) are America’s quiet professionals. Like all of you they could have chosen a life of ease but like you they chose to service in a time of war. They trained for years, they were battle hardened, they practised hard for this missions and when I gave the order they were ready.
‘These Americans deserve credit for one of the greatest military operations in our nation’s history. But so does every person who wears America’s uniform.’
Obama's triumphant visit to the military base came five days after he dramatically announced that the Al Qaeda leader had been killed.
Swarmed: The president is greeted like a celebrity at Fort Campbell after his address to the troops at the military base
Proud: Air assault soldiers presented Obama with this shirt after he spoke at their base this afternoon
THE LETTER FROM 14-YEAR-OLD PAYTON WALL THAT MOVED OBAMA
Barack Obama name-checked Payton Wall in his speech at Fort Campbell today after the teen wrote him a letter.
She had been just four-years-old when her father Glen died in the 9/11 terror attacks she explained before going on to say how she had lost a part of herself that could never be replaced on that dreadful day.
‘Payton remembers watching her mom sobbing as she spoke to her husband and then passed the phone to Payton,’ the President told the troops gathered at the Fort.
‘And in words that were hard to hear but which she’s never forgotten, he said to her, “I love you Payton, and I will always be watching over you.”’
The New Jersey teen and her family had been invited to Thursday's wreath-laying ceremony at Ground Zero after the President had been moved by her letter.
And after he had laid a wreath at the site of the twin towers, Mr Obama proceeded to walk over to Payton and her sister Avery and give them a big hug before shaking hands with their mother.
She may have got a hug from the President but it was heartthrob Justin Bieber who she really wanted to meet.
Mr Obama said he would see what he could do.
‘He told us he knows Justin,’ Payton told DNAinfo.com after the event and that he would fix up a meeting soon.
The President is already riding a political wave following the mission, with recent polls showing his job approval rating has soared above 50 per cent since Bin Laden's death.
Overall views of his leadership are also reported as having improved.
Obama also addressed the soldiers in the room, saying: ‘The finest military the world has ever known and that includes all of you men and women of the 101st.
‘You have been on the front line of this fight for the last 10 years. You were there in the early days driving the Taliban and pushing al Qaeda out of its safe haven. You went back, in some cases a second time, a third and a fourth time.
‘When the decision was made to go into Iraq you were there defeating a vicious insurgency and ultimately giving Iraqi’s their democracy.
‘You have been at the forefront in our next strategy in Afghanistan.
‘Sending more of you into harm’s way had been the toughest decision I have made as Commander in Chief. I didn’t make it lightly.’
This week, the President has used a Medal of Honour ceremony for heroes of the Korean War to lavish praise on those who carried out the Pakistan mission. He has also given an interview to the high profile '60 Minutes' programme on CBS that will air on Sunday.
It is thought that Bin Laden's death will make it easier for Obama to fight criticism that he is weak on national security, claims Republicans have wielded effectively against Democrats for decades.
Six American presidents, including George W Bush, have previously visited Fort Campbell.
Before Obama's arrival, soldiers spoke of their pride at being addressed by the President on such an historic week.
Arrival: Obama waves as he steps off Air Force One at Fort Campbell, before addressing troops
Thank you: Earlier in the day, Obama met Navy Admiral Eric T. Olson, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command
'This is monumental to me,' Kingston McCaden, a staff sergeant in the transportation battalion said. 'He’s rallying the troops, like in the old days, coming to see us and the Night Stalkers like the ones who flew in to do the job. I feel really deeply proud.'
Others were outspoken about the fact that they felt he should have come sooner.
Tami Curtis, a truck driver in the 101st Airborne sustainment division said. 'He should have been here before. We’re his soldiers. He needed to come to show that he supports us.'
