Washington: US President Barack Obama said Monday it would be “very difficult” for al Qaeda to launch another major attack on the United States, as its leadership has been decimated.
Special forces killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in May at his hideout near Islamabad and strikes with aerial drones have killed senior militants in Pakistan’s border areas with Afghanistan and in Yemen.
“It is going to be very difficult for them to mount the kinds of spectacular attacks that we saw on 9/11,” Obama said in an interview with Yahoo.com and ABC News, though warned the extremist group was still dangerous.
Asked by ABC News whether the “strategic defeat” of al Qaeda was at hand, Obama said, “We have done more in the last couple of years than any time in the last 10 years to bring that about.”
“Obviously the most prominent case was us getting bin Laden but, when you look at the entire leadership tier of al Qaeda, they have been decimated,” he said in the live interview.
The militants, who shocked the United States in 2001 with the September 11 attacks using hijacked passenger planes, are “rapidly approaching the point where they just cannot replace skilled operatives through their training,” Obama said.
The United States, because of its open society, is “always going to be vulnerable” and al Qaeda is “still dangerous and still our number one enemy,” he said.
“But I think we’re in a position over the next couple of years, if we stay on it, that it’s going to be very difficult for them to mount the kind of spectacular attacks that we saw on 9/11,” Obama said.
Dear TNT Reader,
At The News Tribe, our mission is to bring you free, independent, and unbiased news and content that keeps you informed and empowered. We are committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism, as we understand that we are a platform for truth.
Apart from independent global news coverage, we also commit our unique focus on the Muslim world. In an age marked by the troubling rise of Islamophobia and widespread misrepresentation of Muslims in Western media, we strive to provide accurate and fair coverage.
But to continue doing so, we need your support. Even a small donation of 1$ can make a big difference. Your contribution will help us maintain the quality of our news and counteract the negative narratives that are so prevalent.
Please consider donating today to ensure we can keep delivering the news that matters. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world, and work towards a more inclusive, informed global society.
Donate Monthly Subscription Annual Subscription