Pressed about President Obama’s campaign promises that Osama bin Laden’s death signaled the end of al-Qaeda, in contrast with the threats from al-Qaeda against embassies across the globe this week, Jay Carney assured reporters that al-Qaeda’s “core” has been “decimated,” but admitted that the terrorist group and its affilliates still present a serious threat.
“I think it’s indisputable that the elimination of Osama bin Laden was a major accomplishment in the effort against al-Qaeda,” Carney said at the White House press briefing this afternoon. “But nobody should be under any illusion that that threat still exists [sic].”
Fox News’s Ed Henry argued that the president “rarely had those caveats” on the campaign trial. “We have been clear, and the president has been clear, the threat from al-Qaeda very much remains,” Carney countered, adding that “the actions this administration takes” and the work done by the intelligence community demonstrates that they still believe the group is a serious threat.
“Al-Qaeda core in the Af-Pak region is greatly diminished and is on the run,” he said.
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