President Obama recounts the raid that killed Bin Laden | 60 Minutes Full Episodes

Name: President Obama recounts the raid that killed Bin Laden | 60 Minutes Full Episodes
Uploaded: 2026-05-02T11:30:32.000Z
Duration: 37 min 36 s
Channel: 60 Minutes

60 MinutesMay 2, 202637m

Topics9

Osama bin Laden's Impact and the Raid0:13 Situation Room During Raid16:30 Pakistan Relations and Not Telling Them24:30 Intelligence from Bin Laden's Compound29:35 President's Visit to Ground Zero31:00 Visit to Firehouse and Future of Afghanistan32:02 Negotiated Settlement in Afghanistan34:02 Awards for Special Forces and Personal Thanks35:01 Ordering the Kill and Justice for Bin Laden36:00

In a Nutshell

President Obama recounts the high-stakes planning, execution, and his tense Situation Room vigil during the 2011 Navy SEAL raid that killed Osama bin Laden in his Pakistani compound, emphasizing the circumstantial intelligence, risks of failure, and decision not to inform Pakistan due to trust issues. He highlights the mission's success—confirmed by photos and DNA—intelligence haul from the compound targeting al-Qaeda networks, and choice to bury bin Laden at sea respectfully without releasing graphic photos to avoid propaganda. Obama ties the raid to justice for 9/11 victims, pride in U.S. special forces, and a refocused Afghanistan strategy enabling troop drawdowns while pursuing al-Qaeda's defeat.

AI-Generated Notes

These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.

Osama bin Laden changed America on September 11, 2001, introducing fear and the threat of terrorism into daily lives of those in big cities, traveling by air, or entering federal buildings. For over a decade, he eluded US military and intelligence, taunting three US presidents. This ended last Sunday when the last thing bin Laden saw was a Navy SEAL in the third-floor bedroom of his compound in Pakistan.

President Obama spoke at the White House on Wednesday, explaining the plan's preparation and execution, his mindset during the raid, and the secrecy before his historic announcement: "Tonight, I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda."

"Was this the most satisfying week of your presidency?" "Well, it was certainly one of the most satisfying weeks not only for my presidency, but I think for the United States since I've been president. Obviously, bin Laden had been not only a symbol of terrorism but a mass murderer who had eluded justice for so long and so many families who had been affected had given up hope. For us to be able to definitively say we got the man who caused thousands of deaths here in the United States was something that I think all of us were profoundly grateful to be a part of."

"Was the decision to launch this attack the most difficult decision that you've made as commander-in-chief?"

"Certainly one. Every time I send young men and women into a war theater that's a tough decision. Whenever you write a letter to a family who's lost a loved one, it's sobering. This was a very difficult decision in part because the evidence that we had was not absolutely inclusive. This was circumstantial evidence that he was going to be there. Obviously, it entailed enormous risk to the guys that I sent in there. But ultimately I had so much confidence in the capacity of our guys to carry out the mission that I felt that the risks were outweighed by the potential benefit of us finally getting our man."

Gut instinct played a role: if it works, instincts seem good; if not, doubts arise. Obama had enough instinct that it was worth doing.

When CIA first brought the information, it looked promising. During his campaign, Obama said if he got a shot at bin Laden, even in Pakistan without capture options, they would take it, drawing criticism. Shortly after taking office, he told Leon Panetta privately in the Oval Office to redouble efforts, putting more resources, focus, and urgency into hunting bin Laden.

CIA presented an image of the compound and factors concluding it was the best evidence since Tora Bora. No photograph of bin Laden or direct evidence. CIA built the case meticulously over months. Obama instructed: even as they built intelligence, start an action plan for dealing with him if confirmed.

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President Obama recounts the raid that killed Bin Laden | 60 Minutes Full Episodes

Osama bin Laden's Impact and the Raid00:13

Satisfaction and Difficulty of the Decision01:01

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