National Security Advisor John Brennan said the decision to carry out the final mission that resulted in the death of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was one of the "gutsiest" decisions made by President Obama.
Brennan said the intelligence about the compound was "different than anything we've seen before" and the evidence provided a "growing sense of confidence" that bin Laden resided there. Brennan said Obama was briefed on the pros and cons of numerous scenarios and decided on a small team to approach the compound.
Early Monday morning in Abbottabad, Pakistan, a Navy SEAL strike team, operating under the authority of the CIA, engaged in a 40-minute fire fight that killed bin Laden.
In a Sunday night address from the White House, President Obama announced that bin Laden's identity was confirmed and that he was buried at sea, according to Muslim customs.
In his remarks, the President also said the U.S. received a possible lead about the compound last August. Obama added that no Americans were harmed and praised this as "the most significant achievement to date" toward the defeat of al-Qaeda.
At the White House press briefing, Brennan said bin Laden's death is a "strategic blow" to al Qaeda. He predicts the organization will begin to splinter as infighting will grow.
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton stated this morning in a special press briefing that, "There are some that questioned whether this day would ever come...let us remind ourselves that this is America. We are resolved." Clinton also said the U.S. will continue to "take the fight" to the Taliban, al Qaeda in Afghanistan.
CIA Director Leon Panetta congratulated the "outstanding expertise, amazing creativity and excellent trade craft" in the military strike that killed bin Laden. He also warned that al-Qaeda will "almost certainly" try to avenge the U.S. killing of Osama bin Laden.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) told the media that "bid Laden's death sends a message around the world." During the same briefing, Senate Armed Service Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) said, “The mythology of bin Laden has been punctured.”
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chair Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Ranking Member Susan Collins (R-ME) discussed the impact of bin Laden’s death on American homeland security. Both Senators stressed the need to keep all photographs of bin Laden's body away from the public. Though, they recognized the possible necessity to release some pictures, video or DNA results to eliminate doubts of bin Laden's death.
Throughout the week, Congress will receive numerous closed-door briefings, and Pres. Obama will also continue to receive detailed reports on the action in the Pakistan region.
Watch the C-SPAN networks for ongoing reaction from Washington.