WHEREAS, The Senate joins with people across Washington State, the nation, and the world in experiencing a sense of relief that the United States conducted a successful operation on May 1, 2011, that located, and ended the life of, Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, a terrorist organization responsible for the mass murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children in the United States and many other areas of the world, including Madrid, Afghanistan, Bali, the USS Cole, U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya, and other locations; and
     WHEREAS, bin Laden had declared war on America and was the mastermind behind the tragic September 11, 2001, attacks on America that killed thousands of our fellow citizens; and
     WHEREAS, In response, the United States and our allies responded by targeting members of al-Qaeda, including their leader bin Laden, through significantly upgraded and coordinated intelligence systems heeding and building upon the recommendations of the 9-11 Commission; and
     WHEREAS, President Barack Obama, Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, oversaw a complex, highly sophisticated process to locate bin Laden, and made the crucial decision to send in an elite, courageous, and heroic team of Navy Seals to put an end to his terrorism; and
     WHEREAS, The people of Washington State take pride in the work of the dedicated military men and women living, or stationed, in Washington State who have been in the forefront of the war on terrorism, who protect our country, and who were critical to the success of this mission, including those affiliated with the Washington National Guard and Washington's military bases, including Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Naval Station Everett, Naval Station Kitsap, Naval Station Bangor, Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, and Fairchild Air Force Base; and
     WHEREAS, The people of Washington State take similar pride in the valuable work of the men and women in the Madigan Army Medical Center, the Yakima Firing Center, the Thirteenth Coast Guard District, the Marines' 4th Landing Support Battalion (4th LSB), the Air National Guard, the Army National Guard, the Naval Undersea Warfare Center at Keyport, the Washington Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility; and
     WHEREAS, In conducting this operation, and in the extensive, lengthy preparations leading to it, our military forces and intelligence agencies have been a shining example of the discipline, focus, and sacrifice it takes to achieve major success;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Senate honors the strong, thoughtful leadership of President Barack Obama; the coordinated, precision leadership of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the National Security Council; the tireless, dedicated work of our counter-terrorism professionals; the clear demonstration of leadership, ability, and unstinting bravery of our military forces and intelligence agencies; and the extraordinary skills, courage, and precision teamwork of the highest order of the elite Navy Seals who personally carried out this most complex and dangerous mission; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Senate expresses its deep appreciation to the dedicated families of these patriotic men and women, who often lose their loved ones in patriotic service to their country; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be immediately transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to President Barack Obama; Secretary of Defense Robert Gates; Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; Admiral Michael Mullen, Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; I Corps Commander Lieutenant General Curtis M. Scaparrotti; Navy Region Northwest Commander Rear Admiral Douglass T. Biesel; Thirteenth Coast Guard District Commander Rear Admiral Gary Blore; Washington Governor Christine Gregoire and First Gentleman Mike Gregoire; Washington National Guard Adjutant General Timothy J. Lowenberg; and Washington Department of Veterans Affairs Director John E. Lee.