The historic revelation comes about four months before the 10th anniversary of the devastating Sept. 11 attacks on the United States, which were executed by the Al Qaeda network helmed by Bin Laden and prompted the start of a war on terror that has dominated U.S. foreign policy.
Bin Laden, 54, was a member of a wealthy Saudi family and has been on the FBI’s Most Wanted Fugitives List since 1999.
Bin Laden broke with Saudi leaders over their beliefs regarding Israel. He was eventually denounced by his family and gave up citizenship.
Al Qaeda has taken responsibility for the bombings of U.S. embassies in 1998 in Tanzania and Kenya. More than 200 people were killed in the attacks.
Al Qaeda has also claimed responsibility for other attacks on other symbols of U.S. power around the globe. It has spawned local organizations in hot spots from Iraq to Afghanistan.
In course of his speech, Obama said “The death of bin Laden marks the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s struggle to defeat al Qaeda. We must and will remain vigilant at home and abroad.” He also took care to dissociate Osama from Islam, saying the “US is not and never will be at war with Islam.” Osama was not, the president pointed out, a Muslim leader; he was rather “a mass murderer” whose victims had included hundreds of thousands of Muslims.
Even as he spoke, crowds swelled outside Pennsylvania Avenue, in Washington DC, with the focus being the open space in front of the White House. Carrying US flags, the crowds sang the Star Spangled Banner and We are the Champions.
Obama: Osama bin Laden Dead – Full Video
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