Washington: US president-elect Barack Obama has Al-Qaeda in his sights. In a television interview broadcast on Sunday by an US based channel, Obama said that it was a top priority for him to get in place his national security team ready for when he takes power in January, because terrorists might try to attack the U.S. during the White House transition period.
Making his stand on the terror issue clear, Obama said that as soon as he takes office he will work to "stamp out al-Qaeda once and for all."
"I think it is a top priority for us to stamp out al-Qaeda once and for all. And I think capturing or killing bin Laden is a critical aspect of stamping out al-Qaeda. He is not just a symbol, he's also the operational leader of an organisation that is planning attacks against US targets," Obama told CBS' 60 Minutes.
"We want to make sure that there is as seamless a transition on national security as possible."
This was Obama's first television interview since his historic election on 4 November. The president-elect said he had spent his time on a range of issues.
The issues ranged from doing "whatever it takes" to stabilise the economy, restore consumer confidence and create jobs, to getting sound health care and energy policies through Congress.
Obama also promised that he will work with his security team and the military to draw down U.S. troops in Iraq, shore up Afghanistan.
Underlining that it was important to go for al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, Onbama said, "I think capturing or killing bin Laden is a critical aspect of stamping out al-Qaeda. He is not just a symbol, he's also the operational leader of an organisation that is planning attacks against U.S. targets."
Obama also spoke on the issue of the wobbling US economy. Admitting tat the US financial markets were still shakey, the president elect once again endorsed his belief that without the 700 billion US dollar bank bailout, the economy would have deteriorated even more.
He however also reminded that there was still work to be done to restore confidence.
"There's no doubt that we have not been able yet to reset the confidence in the financial markets and in the consumer markets and among businesses that allow the economy to move forward in a strong way and my job as president is going to be to make sure that we restore that confidence," said an upbeat Obama.
There was good news for those seeking reprieve in the US controlled Guantanamo Bay. The president-elect confirmed reports that he intends to close the detention centre at Guantanamo Bay to make sure US does not torture.
Obama added that this is to help America regain its moral stature in the world.
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