Biden: I Told Obama to Hold Off on Bin Laden Raid

WASHINGTON, DC 
Friday, January 27, 2012

Vice President Joe Biden joined House Democrats in Cambridge, MD to deliver addresses at the caucus's annual conference. One of the topics was the Bin Laden raid, during which Biden gave an account of what happened that day, including an admission that he wanted the President to hold off on the raid. 

JOE BIDEN:

"Curtain and decimate Al Qaida…through the President’s actions…We all deserve some of the credit. But it’s usually somebody. I just wanna tell you… this guys gotta backbone like ramrod...

….The final call came. You have to make decisions literally based on the moon, will there be enough light. And we had to make a decision. The President, he went around the table with all the senior people including the Chiefs of Staff. He said, I have to make this decision what is your opinion. He started with the National Security adviser, the Secretary of State and he ended with me. Every single person in that room hedged their bet, except Leon Panetta. Leon said GO. Everyone else said 49, 51, this...

It got to me. Joe what do you think? I said “You know I didn't know we have so many economists around the table. We owe the man a direct answer. Mr. President my suggestion is don't go. We have to do two more things to see if he's there.

He walked out and said I'll give you my decision. The next morning he came down to the diplomatic entrance getting in the helicopter, I believe to get to Michigan, and he turned to Tom Donnel and said...go.

Knowing that as loyal as everyone is around that table. When pressed and when books are written later that would've said "I didn't tell him to do that"... I hope no one would've done that. 

But not knowing that the people around the table said “Yes, Mr. President, go." He knew what was at stake. Not just the lives of those brave warriors. But literally the Presidency. And he pulled the trigger.

And that is clear to American people. And it says less about Bin Laden then it does about character, about this guy leading from behind.

This guy doesn't lead from behind...he just leads. And that’s clear."