June 3, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC – House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn today released the following statement on the Obama Administration’s recent success capturing and killing major al Quaeda figures. Al Qaeda’s No. 3 leader, the chief operating officer, Mustafa Abu al-Yazid was confirmed killed this week.
“Democrats have been focused on keeping America safe and have stepped up the fight against terrorists. The killing of al Qaeda’s No. 3 in Iraq further highlights that we remain committed to eliminating the threat of al Qaeda and will continue to fight to protect our country and invest in our national security.
“Democrats in Congress and the Obama Administration understand the nature of the threats that we face and we’re working tirelessly to defeat them. We’ve taken the fight against terrorists to their own turf and we have them on the run. We’ve successfully killed and captured hundreds of al Qaeda and Taliban leaders, and in the past 10 months we’ve knocked off top leaders of al Qaeda in Iraq and al Qaeda in East Africa, along with many others.
“For years Republicans took their eye off the ball – failing to focus on the actual enemies of 9/11 and under-resourcing the fight against terrorism. While Republicans continue to vote against measures that give the intelligence community and the military the resources and tools necessary to keep us safe, Democrats are committed to ensuring our troops have the support they need to protect America.
“I applaud the Obama Administration for leading the way in strengthening our national security. After years of frayed alliances and growing opposition to our leadership, Democrats in Congress and the Obama Administration have restored America’s leadership and standing in the world while keeping Americans safe at home.”