If President Obama had listened to Vice President Joe Biden, Osama bin Laden might still be alive, according to Slate. The man who some are speculating will be stripped of his vice presidential role in favor of Hillary Clinton was against President Obama's ultimately successful raid of Osama bin Laden.
Biden, who spoke at a Democratic retreat this weekend, said that he and many of the president's top aides were against the raid.
From Slate:
"[Obama] went around the table with all the senior people, including the chiefs of staff, and he said, 'I have to make a decision. What is your opinion?'" Biden told lawmakers, according to the New York Times, which confirmed the vice president's account with the White House. "Every single person in that room hedged their bet except Leon Panetta. Leon said go. Everyone else said, 49, 51."
When Obama asked the VP for his opinion, Biden said he responded: " 'You know, I didn’t know we had so many economists around the table.' I said, '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.' "
We wonder how President Obama would be faring in the polls if American citizens still felt threatened by Osama bin Laden. We also assume that Republicans would be more eager to talk about national security than they've been of late. In any case, we are glad that the president was so decisive and got the result he wanted.
Read more at Slate.
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