The End of Osama Bin Laden

The US President, Barack Obama has confirmed the death of the al-Qaeda founder and leader, Osama Bin Ladin a while ago.

In an address delivered in the East Room, President Obama said, “I can report to the American people and to the world that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama Bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda, and a terrorist who's responsible for the murder of thousands of innocent men, women, and children.”

The death of Obama brings to an end the about ten years of hide-and-seek between the United States and Osama, who was believed to be behind the September 9/11 bomb incident in the US which claimed thousands of human lives and property worth billions of US dollars.

President Obama described the bomb incident thus: “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 - hijacked planes cutting through a cloudless September sky; the Twin Towers collapsing to the ground; black smoke billowing up from the Pentagon; the wreckage of Flight 93 in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, where the actions of heroic citizens saved even more heartbreak and destruction.”

He said shortly after taking office, he directed Leon Panetta, the director of the CIA, “to make the killing or capture of Bin Laden the top priority” of the war against al-Qaeda.

After several months of strategizing, the United States launched a targeted operation against a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan where intelligence report indicated that Osama was hiding.

“A small team of Americans carried out the operation with extraordinary courage and capability,” said President Obama.

“No Americans were harmed. They took care to avoid civilian casualties. After a firefight, they killed Osama Bin Laden and took custody of his body.”

Furthermore, President Obama stated categorically that the death of Osama would not be the end of US efforts towards the war against terrorism.

President Obama said “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.”

According to President Obama, “we must also reaffirm that the United States is not - and never will be - at war with Islam. I've made clear, just as President Bush did shortly after 9/11 that our war is not against 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.”