--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The CIA special unit that was searching…" description: "\"The CIA special unit that was searching for Osama bin Laden has been disbanded. So I guess, mission accomplished.\" — David Letterman" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/david-letterman-378_accomplished_the-cia-special-unit-that-was-searching_1339515.jpg" --- # The CIA special unit that was searching for Osama bin… ![“The CIA special unit that was searching for Osama bin Laden has been disbanded. So I guess, mission accomplished.” quote by David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/david-letterman-378_accomplished_the-cia-special-unit-that-was-searching_1339515.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/david-letterman-378_accomplished_the-cia-special-unit-that-was-searching_1339515.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/david-letterman-378_accomplished_the-cia-special-unit-that-was-searching_1339515.jpg) > “The CIA special unit that was searching for Osama bin Laden has been disbanded. So I guess, mission accomplished.” [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The CIA unit that hunted Osama bin Laden was dissolved, implying the mission succeeded. **In simple terms:** The team was disbanded after achieving its goal. Key Takeaway Recognize when a task is truly complete. Themes mission completion military operations Mood reflective critical Type historical analytical When to use this quote - policy analysis - historical review - media commentary Key Concepts counterterrorism organizational lifecycle Questions to Reflect On - What are the long‑term effects of disbanding successful units? - How does public perception shape policy decisions? A Different Perspective Success may mask underlying issues or future needs. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cia/) [Disbanded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disbanded/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Israel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/israel/) [Mission accomplished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mission-accomplished/) [Missions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/missions/) ## Related quotes > [According to the recent polls, Bush has a slight lead over John Kerry. So today, Bush hung a banner over the White House saying,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/according-to-the-recent-polls-bush-has-a-slight-lead-over-john-kerry/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [But down in Florida in the early voting, there were computer glitches, confusing ballots, long lines and chaos. And when President Bush heard about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/but-down-in-florida-in-the-early-voting-there-were-computer-glitches/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [I think soon after I became director of the CIA - President Obama pulled me into the Oval Office and said: 'Look, I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/i-think-soon-after-i-became-director-of-the-cia-president-obama/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [Today would have been the birthday of Osama bin Laden. It makes me remember when Seal Team 6 threw him a surprise party.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/today-would-have-been-the-birthday-of-osama-bin-laden-it-makes-me/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [Osama bin Laden... lived in one house for, like, six years with three wives. And earlier today, they ruled his death was a suicide.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/osama-bin-laden-lived-in-one-house-for-like-six-years-with-three/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [We are starting to learn more about Osama bin Laden. For his birthday one year, somebody gave him a $4 Timex. We know that.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/we-are-starting-to-learn-more-about-osama-bin-laden-for-his-birthday/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [Did you hear this? They say now Osama bin Laden and his buddy Mullah Omar have left Afghanistan dressed as women. They dressed up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/did-you-hear-this-they-say-now-osama-bin-laden-and-his-buddy-mullah/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [What we know about Osama Bin Laden is this: he's worth $300 million, he has five wives and twenty-six kids -- and he hates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/what-we-know-about-osama-bin-laden-is-this-he-s-worth-300-million-he/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [Osama bin Laden was living in that compound with three wives. It's like he was Newt Gingrich.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/osama-bin-laden-was-living-in-that-compound-with-three-wives-it-s/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [This Osama bin Laden, now they say he has had plastic surgery. They say he sneaked across the border into Pakistan, which by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/this-osama-bin-laden-now-they-say-he-has-had-plastic-surgery-they-say/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [They found a scrapbook with photos of Osama bin Laden from the '90s, and they're studying each and every photo very, very closely. My…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/they-found-a-scrapbook-with-photos-of-osama-bin-laden-from-the-90s/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [Now there are reports that Osama bin Laden would like to commit suicide on television. This is the kind of lead-in I have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/now-there-are-reports-that-osama-bin-laden-would-like-to-commit/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [They found a cave once lived in by Osama bin Laden and the only thing in the cave were some boxer undershorts, and macaroni.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/they-found-a-cave-once-lived-in-by-osama-bin-laden-and-the-only-thing/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [There's already been some trouble for Osama bin Laden in the afterlife. There was a mix up and he was greeted by 72 vegans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/there-s-already-been-some-trouble-for-osama-bin-laden-in-the/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [We're learning more about Osama bin Laden. His father was married 16 times, and he has five wives. I think we're getting to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/we-re-learning-more-about-osama-bin-laden-his-father-was-married-16/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) ## More by David Letterman > [Two things you need to know about taxes. They've extended the deadline to April 18, and when you write your check, just make it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/two-things-you-need-to-know-about-taxes-they-ve-extended-the-deadline/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [You know Kim Jong Un, the evil dictator of North Korea? Apparently, a guy in his inner circle used his ashtray while smoking and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/you-know-kim-jong-un-the-evil-dictator-of-north-korea-apparently-a/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [It's the first day of spring. That means this weekend I'll take down my Christmas lights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/it-s-the-first-day-of-spring-that-means-this-weekend-i-ll-take-down/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [There are a lot of New York City Thanksgiving traditions. For example, a lot of New Yorkers don't buy the frozen Thanksgiving turkey. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/there-are-a-lot-of-new-york-city-thanksgiving-traditions-for-example/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [I can hardly wait until Donald Trump announces his celebrity cabinet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/i-can-hardly-wait-until-donald-trump-announces-his-celebrity-cabinet/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [Experts say this global warming is serious, and they are predicting now that by the year 2050, we will be out of party ice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/experts-say-this-global-warming-is-serious-and-they-are-predicting/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [We make a lot of fun at President Clinton's expense. But this transition is going to be tough because it's been 25 years since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/we-make-a-lot-of-fun-at-president-clinton-s-expense-but-this/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [I'm worried about John Kerry, he's so confident now that he's already planning his White House sex scandal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/i-m-worried-about-john-kerry-he-s-so-confident-now-that-he-s-already/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [“There is no off position on the genius”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/there-is-no-off-position-on-the-genius/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [I vote Democrat because I'm way too irresponsible to own a gun, and I know that my local police are all I need to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/i-vote-democrat-because-i-m-way-too-irresponsible-to-own-a-gun-and-i/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [Do I think there is a heaven? Uh, yeah I do. Like a really big gymnasium. How do I see myself there? With really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/do-i-think-there-is-a-heaven-uh-yeah-i-do-like-a-really-big-gymnasium/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [If it wasn't for coffee, I'd have no discernible personality at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/if-it-wasn-t-for-coffee-i-d-have-no-discernible-personality-at-all/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [Well, we're just a couple of weeks from new President Barack Obama being sworn in. And he's been very busy naming a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/well-we-re-just-a-couple-of-weeks-from-new-president-barack-obama/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [Sometimes when you look in his eyes you get the feeling that someone else is driving.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/sometimes-when-you-look-in-his-eyes-you-get-the-feeling-that-someone/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) > [Prince William and Kate Middleton are in New York City. We have got to do something about immigration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/prince-william-and-kate-middleton-are-in-new-york-city-we-have-got-to/) [David Letterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) [Explore all 619 David Letterman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/) ## More Accomplished quotes > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [... even the most sublimely accomplished non-stop talker can't consistently please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/even-the-most-sublimely-accomplished-non-stop-talker-can-t/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [ \[U\]nless oppressed groups stick together, and on alliances of self interest rather than do-goodism; nothing can be accomplished in the long run to dismantle… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shulamith-firestone/u-nless-oppressed-groups-stick-together-and-on-alliances-of-self/) [Shulamith Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shulamith-firestone/) > [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [Like all writers, he measured the achievements of others by what they had accomplished, asking of them that they measure him by what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/like-all-writers-he-measured-the-achievements-of-others-by-what-they/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I'm proud of what I've accomplished and that is empowering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violet-chachki/i-m-proud-of-what-i-ve-accomplished-and-that-is-empowering/) [Violet Chachki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violet-chachki/) > [We do not know today whether we are busy or idle. In times when we thought ourselves indolent, we have afterwards discovered that much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-do-not-know-today-whether-we-are-busy-or-idle-in-times-when-we/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I don't know Beyoncé, but I have the impression that she's sincere, that she really is a feminist and wanted to put the word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/i-don-t-know-beyonc-but-i-have-the-impression-that-she-s-sincere-that/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [The gain in self-confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labour is immense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-gain-in-self-confidence-of-having-accomplished-a-tiresome-labour/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [With Epcot Center, the Disney corporation has accomplished something I didn't think possible in today's world. They have created a land of make-believe that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-accomplished-something-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Listing the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act could harm bear conservation efforts by eliminating revenues from the carefully-regulated sport hunting of polar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ridenour/listing-the-polar-bear-under-the-endangered-species-act-could-harm/) Amy Ridenour > [“Great things can be accomplished, when it doesnt matter who gets the credit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/great-things-can-be-accomplished-when-it-doesnt-matter-who-gets-the/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [If I could inspire you for even a moment to be yourself and love yourself, and not let what anyone has to say hinder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-neal-hartry/if-i-could-inspire-you-for-even-a-moment-to-be-yourself-and-love/) [Joshua Neal Hartry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-neal-hartry/) Browse all 1,379 Accomplished quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The CIA special unit that was searching for Osama bin Laden has been disbanded. So I guess, mission accomplished.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "David Letterman" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/the-cia-special-unit-that-was-searching-for-osama-bin-laden-has-been/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accomplished" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/the-cia-special-unit-that-was-searching-for-osama-bin-laden-has-been/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/david-letterman-378_accomplished_the-cia-special-unit-that-was-searching_1339515.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/david-letterman-378_accomplished_the-cia-special-unit-that-was-searching_1339515.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e04/david-letterman-378_accomplished_the-cia-special-unit-that-was-searching_1339515.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The CIA special unit that was searching for Osama bin Laden has been disbanded. So I guess, mission…” — David Letterman", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "David Letterman", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-letterman/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The CIA special unit that was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/the-cia-special-unit-that-was-searching-for-osama-bin-laden-has-been/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-letterman/the-cia-special-unit-that-was-searching-for-osama-bin-laden-has-been/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```