President Obama opened and closed his State of the Union speech with references to the killing of Osama bin Laden by Seal Team Six, using the success of the operation as a means of arguing for greater bipartisanship in Congress.

"For the first time in two decades, Osama bin Laden is not a threat to this country," Obama reminded Congress. "These achievements are a testament to the courage, selflessness, and teamwork of America’s Armed Forces . . . They’re not consumed with personal ambition.  They don’t obsess over their differences."

The president returned to his greatest foreign policy success, and the example of the military, at the conclusion of his remarks. "One of my proudest possessions is the flag that the SEAL Team took with them on the mission to get bin Laden," he said.  "On it are each of their names.  Some may be Democrats.  Some may be Republicans.  But that doesn’t matter . . . All that mattered that day was the mission."

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