Obama: Osama bin Laden's death does not end fight against al Qaeda

Updated 1 a.m. ET

President Obama called the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden the "most significant achievement to date" of U.S. efforts to defeat al Qaeda since the 9/11 attacks 10 years ago, but added it does not mark the end of the fight.

"For over two decades, bin Laden has been al Qaeda's leader and symbol, and has continued to plot attacks against our country and our friends and allies. The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation's effort to defeat al Qaeda," Mr. Obama said in a statement late Sunday night from the White House soon after news broke that Bin Laden had been killed in Pakistan.

"Yet his death does not mark the end of our effort. There's no doubt that al Qaeda will continue to pursue attacks against us. We must -- and we will -- remain vigilant at home and abroad," (watch the speech in the video above)

But while Mr. Obama was quick to add that the fight isn't over, he also stressed that the U.S. is not at war with Islam.

"Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader; he was a mass murderer of Muslims. Indeed, al Qaeda has slaughtered scores of Muslims in many countries, including our own. So his demise should be welcomed by all who believe in peace and human dignity," Mr. Obama added.

In talking about the operation against bin Laden, who he called a "leader and symbol" for al Qaeda's fight against the U.S., Mr. Obama said the plans were first started last August when the CIA gathered intelligence on a possible lead as to where he might be hiding. Mr. Obama said last week he decided there was enough intelligence to take action.

"Today, at my direction, the United States launched a targeted operation against that compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability," adding that no Americans were harmed and they took care to avoid civilian casualties.

Read the full text of the speech

The president was also noted that he talked with Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari following the operation, and that officials agreed it was a "good and historic day for both of our nations."

"It is essential that Pakistan continue to join us in the fight against al Qaeda and its affiliates," Mr. Obama added.

Mr. Obama also recalled how 9/11 changed the country and made a call for a return to the "sense of unity" in the U.S. in the aftermath of the attacks.

"It was nearly 10 years ago that a bright September day was darkened by the worst attack on the American people in our history. The images of 9/11 are seared into our national memory," he said. "And tonight, let us think back to the sense of unity that prevailed on 9/11. I know that it has, at times, frayed. Yet today's achievement is a testament to the greatness of our country and the determination of the American people."

[MarkJulianSmith]

Change the Text or Change Nothing

This misinterpreting text informing terror would wash if it happened just two times since the seventh century but a million and counting.

Its the Islamic text and the imitation of the master of evil Mohammed we cannot change the diabolical acts of Mohammed but we sure as hell can change the text informing new minds.

[stn_sage]

C'mon BO! You've had your 'aircraft moment'...how about doing
something positive for the public that they will benefit from
instead of resurrecting a dead guy, and killing him again!

[laurensmith321]

Obama was knew bin Laden's location since August 2010... Read this...
http://www.favstocks.com/president-obama-knew-obl%E2%80%99s-location-since-august%E2%80%A6-voted-present-until-may/0252587/

[slatep]

TREASON.!!!

The military objective was to kill or capture Bin Laden.

WE GOT HIM.!!

End of exscuses and lies to US citizens and our troops.

Man up.!!

The next announcement I and many others want to hear from you is what day this month you are going to start bringing our troops home from Afghanistan.

As a recent newspaper article pointed out "Marines are soldiers, not the Peace Corp".

MOVE IT.!!!!!

[CPetalSoft]

Call me Doubting Thomas from the "Show Me" State of Missouri but I find this too convenient and too hard to believe! He was killed by our troops when? So we could have kept possession of his remains for as long as we chose to but he was buried at sea when? AND DNA test findings were proof evident that this was our man we were after? The only pic. of him as dead could've been just about anybody. He was from $ and royalty so what about dental records so to back up further proof that this is him? Our own President was asked to show a Birth Certificate as where he was born was in question and yet a man which claims responsibility for the 9/11 attack on The U.S.A. isn't around any more so to prove to us that are skeptical that this truly is Osama Bin Laden? Just because someone wants this to be him shouldn't jump to assuming that it is with such flimsy evidence. Just because so many people fall for being told that he is now dead doesn't make it so either. If this were the case, the DNA report is in and I can fly like Tinker Bell and I won't be located for further questioning for evidence because I'm nowhere to be found. Now, where is your proof that I'm being misleading and why are you doubtful as to what you are being told now?

[CPetalSoft]

And the DNA results came 'back' in an extremely short amount of time too!
Just saying!

[helmyelsaid]

The end long long following.

[sjc_1]

I did not think that he would live in a cave for 10 years.

[samXXkiley]

coucou,
beaucoup de nations ont souffert et souffrent encore du terrorisme,
une page tr?s sombre de l'histoire a ?t? "arrach?e"
la lutte continue encore pour ?radiquer ? jamais, ce "fl?au" appel? "terrorisme, la vigilance s'impose plus que jamais

==============================
many nations have suffered and still suffer from terrorism,
a very dark page of history has been "torn"
the fight continues to eradicate forever, this "scourge" called "terrorism, we must remain vigilant more than ever,
Hopefully this will be a lesson to some, those who kill the innocent, who sow evil, reap evil
"au revoir"

[pasha128]

Even with this victory successfully completed, Obama displays a clearer perspective on the future impact of this event that Bush's "Mission Accomplished" debacle on the Abraham Lincoln. Preparations to prevent possible retaliations have already been activated with everyone at work and no one is pompously taking a victory lap at the present time.

[Edwardretusaf]

Yes Osama is dead along with his oldest son. He had 9 years 8 months and a few days to live after 911. I would have made that the worst 9 year 8 months and what ever days for him. I would have killed ever relative he has ever known. No Exceptions !!!

[user000049586849302948603]

Okay, you're a monster.

[XOSTEPHANIE0X]

This is the problem with American culture. Not just about news, but about everything. We want everything right here, right now. Things don't come in a snap anymore. Bin Laden is dead. He killed thousands of American's and for some reason his death doesn't mean anything to you. You want there to peace, happiness, butterflies and pancakes right away. Things take time. This will be a historical event and people will never forget it. Take life a day at a time because you don't know what you will get. It's hard for me to tell anyone to be happy about a death, but this one death does not amount to the hundreds killed during 9/11. Things will not be perfect when you wake up tomorrow morning, but its moving in the positive direction. This nation is united because we are Americans. Smile. Laugh. Live your life. Everything else will fall into place. Stop complaining because it is not everything you've ever hoped for. Ugh.