Washington, May 2 (IANS) Osama bin Laden’s death delivered a powerful message to terrorist groups that they cannot defeat the US, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton declared Monday.
Saying it proves America’s unwavering commitment in the war on terror, Clinton said at the State Department that the message to the Taliban ‘remains the same, but today, it may have even greater resonance.
‘You cannot wait us out, you cannot defeat us, but you can make the choice to abandon Al Qaeda and participate in a peaceful political process.
‘There is no better rebuke to Al Qaeda and its heinous ideology,’ she said, asking America to stay focused in its battle against global terrorism.
She reaffirmed both the US mission in Afghanistan and its partnership with Pakistan, where the Al Qaeda leader was found and killed, saying: ‘Our partnerships, including our close cooperation with Pakistan, have helped put unprecedented pressure on Al Qaeda and its leadership.
US forces flew into Pakistan’s Abbattobad city early Monday and shot dead bin Laden at a mansion where he had lived quietly for years.
‘Continued cooperation will be just as important in the days ahead, because even as we mark this milestone, we should not forget that the battle to stop Al Qaeda and its syndicate of terror will not end with the death of bin Laden.’
Al Qaeda’s mission of terror was not solely directed at the US, she said, referring to other attacks in London, Madrid, Bali and Istanbul specifically.
‘Innocent people, most of them Muslims, were targeted in markets and mosques, in subway stations and on airplanes, each attack motivated by a violent ideology that holds no value for human life or regard for human dignity,’ Clinton said.
‘I know that nothing can make up for the loss of the victims or fill the voids they left but I hope their families can now find some comfort in the fact that justice has been served.’
Just as the people of New York, where the twin towers of the World Trade Centre were destroyed by the Sep 11 Al Qaeda attack, had ‘pulled through’, today the ‘American spirit remains as powerful as ever, and it will continue to prevail’, Clinton said.
(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)
