Barack Obama has claimed it is no longer necessary to kill Osama Bin Laden to win the war against al-Qaeda. In an unprecedented departure from the current wanted 'dead or alive policy,' the U.S. President-Elect said that simply keeping bin Laden holed up in a cave was enough to keep America safe.
'My preference obviously would be to capture or kill him,' he said.
'But if we have so tightened his noose that he's in a cave somewhere and can't even communicate with his operatives then we will meet our goal of protecting America.
I think that we have to so weaken (his) infrastructure that, whether he is technically alive or not, he is so pinned down that he cannot function.
'I'm confident that we can keep them on the run and ensure that they cannot train terrorists to attack our homeland.
Mr Obama's comments mark a significant move away from the policy pursued by President Bush since the al-Qaeda attacks of September 11 and which he himself endorsed during the election campaign.
In a presidential debate in October, he said: 'We will kill bin Laden. We will crush al-Qaeda. That has to be our biggest national security priority.'
Mr Obama's comments, made in an interview with CBS, came in the wake of a new audio message purporting to be from the al-Qaeda leader.
In it, bin Laden apparently calls for a holy war over the Israeli offensive in Gaza.
He also discussed Obama and said the new U.S. president would inherit the 'heavy legacy' of a long guerrilla war that would widen to more fronts, according to internet terrorism monitor SITE Intelligence Group.
Al-Qaeda was willing to fight 'for seven more years, and seven more after that, then seven more...we are on the way to opening new fronts,' he said.
'(Muslims must) join hands with the mujahedeen to continue the jihad against the enemy, to continue bleeding them.
'The question is, can America continue the war against us for several more decades? The reports and signs show us otherwise.'
The U.S. government dismissed the message, claiming Bin Laden was not a threat to Mr Obama's inauguration, which takes place on Tuesday.
'It appears this tape demonstrates his isolation and continued attempts to remain relevant at a time when al Qaeda's ideology, mission, and agenda are being questioned and challenged throughout the world,' White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said.
He said it also looked like a fund-raising effort.
The inauguration is expected to draw record crowds of 1.5 million or more to the U.S. capital next week for three days of festivities.
Tens of thousands of police and U.S. troops will take part in an unprecedented security effort.
