LOST 2008 VIDEO: OBAMA GIVES A PREVIEW OF CROSSING INTO PAKISTAN WITHOUT PERMISSION TO STRIKE TERRORISTS

Osama bin Laden is dead, shot in the head by U.S. Special Forces that crossed over into Pakistan and invaded his compound near the capital of Islamabad -- all without prior authorization of the Pakistani regime.

That President Obama would have the boldness to charge into a Muslim nation whose relations with the U.S. have been spotty over the years is something that really should have been expected, as is indicated by the 2008 interview that he gave to ABC News' former nightly anchor, Charles Gibson.

I'm having problems locating the video of that interview, so for the time being, I will just post the transcript of the relevant part.

GIBSON: Do we have a right to anticipatory self-defense? Do we have a right to make a preemptive strike again another country if we feel that country might strike us?

OBAMA: Charlie, if there is legitimate and enough intelligence that tells us that a strike is imminent against American people, we have every right to defend our country. In fact, the president has the obligation, the duty to defend.

GIBSON: Do we have the right to be making cross-border attacks into Pakistan from Afghanistan, with or without the approval of the Pakistani government?

OBAMA: Now, as for our right to invade, we’re going to work with these countries, building new relationships, working with existing allies, but forging new, also, in order to, Charlie, get to a point in this world where war is not going to be a first option. In fact, war has got to be, a military strike, a last option.

GIBSON: But, Senator, I’m asking you: We have the right, in your mind, to go across the border with or without the approval of the Pakistani government.

OBAMA: In order to stop Islamic extremists, those terrorists who would seek to destroy America and our allies, we must do whatever it takes and we must not blink, Charlie, in making those tough decisions of where we go and even who we target.

GIBSON: And let me finish with this. I got lost in a blizzard of words there. Is that a "yes"? That you think we have the right to go across the border with or without the approval of the Pakistani government, to go after terrorists who are in the Waziristan area?

OBAMA: I believe that America has to exercise all options in order to stop the terrorists who are hell bent on destroying America and our allies. We have got to have all options out there on the table.

All right, I have found the video -- thanks for waiting.  Here it is.




Congratulations to all of you people who actually, y'know, pay attention to the news, and  recognized where this was going.  For the rest of you: Didn't those answers have more gravitas when you thought Obama had given them?

You've been punk'd, punk.