Obama Thanks Navy SEALs

The AP reports:

President Barack Obama says that because of the incredible skill and courage of countless intelligence and military professionals, the terrorist leader who struck the U.S. on 9/11 "will never threaten America again."

Obama traveled to Fort Campbell in Kentucky on Friday to thanks U.S. troops for their efforts. Many soldiers at the Army post have recently returned from Afghanistan. Obama also thanked the special operations troops who participated in the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound in Pakistan.

Before Obama spoke, Vice President Joe Biden proudly told the troops: "We just spent time with the assaulters who got bin Laden."

The president was meeting with some of the Navy SEALS who carried out the operation in Abbottabad, Pakistan, and the elite helicopter crews who flew them in. He was then to speak to troops recently back from Afghanistan, where the fighting and search for an endgame continues despite the death of the terrorist who masterminded the killing of nearly 3,000 Americans on Sept. 11, 2001.

Hundreds of soldiers clad in fatigues milled about in front of an enormous American flag as they waited in a hangar for Obama to arrive. The mood looked celebratory as troops wearing combat boots broke out occasional dance moves. But Obama has said there's no need to "spike the ball" and revel in bin Laden's death, and presidential spokesman Jay Carney said his comments would reflect that attitude.

"I don't expect you'll hear the president spiking the ball and gloating when he speaks to troops returning from Afghanistan," Carney told reporters traveling with the president Friday on Air Force One. "The point he will make is that while the successful mission against Osama bin Laden was an historic and singular event, it doesn't by any means mean that we are finished with the war against al-Qaida. The fight goes on."

That was underscored by a new al-Qaida statement released Friday that threatened retaliation for bin Laden's death and said that Americans' "happiness will turn to sadness." Its authenticity could not be independently confirmed.

"We are aware of it. We've seen the reports," Carney said. "What it does obviously is acknowledge the obvious, which is that Osama bin Laden was killed on Sunday night by U.S. forces. ... We're quite aware of the potential for (terrorist) activity and are highly vigilant on that matter for that reason."