Former U.S. Senator from Washington state, Slade Gorton, says the killing of bin Laden is proof that intelligence agencies in the United States have improved. Gorton sat on the 9/11 Commission, which investigated the terrorist attacks. Gorton credits Congress with adopting many of the recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission in 2004. After 9/11, U.S. intelligence agencies were criticized for failing to prevent the attacks. Gorton says the killing of Osama bin Laden proves that a lot has changed since then.
“There was a substantial reorganization of all of our intelligence agencies, a better line of communication between them and the President and, I think, under Leon Panetta a more effective CIA,” Gorton said.
Gorton, who is a Republican, expressed admiration for President Obama and for the "patience of two administrations" that worked to hunt down Osama bin Laden.