Pres. Obama: US Not at War With Islam

U.S. President Barak Obama, on the ninth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks Saturday, urged the American people to unite and stressed that al Qaeda terrorists, not Islam, attacked the U.S.

In a memorial ceremony at the Pentagon Memorial in Washington, he said, “It was not a religion that attacked us that September day -- it was al Qaeda, a sorry band of men which perverts religion,” adding, “As Americans we are not -- and never will be -- at war with Islam.”

“Those who attacked us sought to demoralize us, divide us, to deprive us of the very unity... But today we declare once more we will never hand them that victory.”

He added, “We will stay true to our traditions here at home as a diverse and tolerant nation.”

Attending the event were U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and other high-ranking brass such as Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and bereaved families of those killed in 9/11.

Obama also told a news conference at the White House Friday that the enemy of the U.S. is not Islam but extremist groups such as al Qaeda, adding that Americans should not turn on each other or let fears develop into division.

Separately, First Lady Michelle Obama and her predecessor Laura Bush attended a memorial ceremony in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, to honor of the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93.

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