President Barack Obama Friday heralded the death of U.S. born terror leader Anwar al-Awlaki as a milestone in the war on terror.
“[It’s] a major blow to al Qaeda’s most active operational affiliate,” Obama said during a farewell ceremony for outgoing Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen. “This success is a tribute to our intelligence community and to the efforts of Yemen and it’s security forces.”
Added Osama, “al Qaeda in the Arabian peninsula remains a dangerous though weakened terrorist organization.
Al-Awlaki was killed Friday in an airstrike in Yemen. The New Mexico born terror leader was seen as a spiritual figurehead for al Qaeda and has been linked to the failed Christmas day attack in 2009 as well as other attempted attacks.
“This was a terrorist who wasn’t simply a propagandist, but over the years had become an operational figure who was increasingly focused on planning and carrying out attacks against the United States and our allies,” a Senior Defense Official says.