UPDATED: Osama bin Laden Dead, Obama Says

President Barack Obama said Sunday night that the United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan.

Obama said no Americans were hurt in the gunfight that killed the 9/11 mastermind, whose body was taken into U.S. custody and buried at sea in accordance with Islamic burial rules, according to subsequent news reports.

But, Obama warned: "There's no doubt that al-Qaida will continue to pursue attacks against us."

"We must and we will remain vigilant at home and abroad," Obama said. "As we do, we must also reaffirm that the United States is not, and never will be, at war with Islam."

After hearing the news, a cheering, photo-snapping, flag-waving crowd gathered outside the White House and another formed at Ground Zero.

The development comes nearly 10 years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that killed thousands at the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon in Washington, DC, and in a Pennsylvania field where one of the hijacked jetliners crashed. The attacks led to military action in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere that continues today.

"It's obviously a success story," Col. Keith Sousa, rear detachment commander for the Army Reserve's 645th Regional Support Group based in Southfield, said Monday. "But, I think people have to keep it in perspective. This is just the beginning.

"Maybe in the long term, it will have some effect, but I know there are leaders in bin Laden's chain of command who will step up and take his place," he said.

Sousa acknowledged bin Laden's death will probably bring relief to those who lost friends and family members on 9/11, but he said the news doesn't mark the end of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"There's still no change to the manpower, training and commitment of the Army," Sousa said.

Nonetheless, some were hopeful bin Laden's death would mean the military actions will be able to ratchet down.

"I think this is a huge victory for the United States and I hope it's a huge step forward toward putting the war on terrorism behind us," said Army Specialist Jesse Williams of Royal Oak, who served in Afghanistan from January 2007 through April 2008.

Williams and his unit provided security for reconstruction efforts including the building of schools and dams and providing inoculations for children. But, the unit also was involved in more aggressive roles, such as a 21-day mission going village to village trying to find known al-Qaida operatives, Williams said.

When asked how he was feeling about the news Sunday night, Williams replied: "Oh, boy. Happy. Just happy."

Judge Advocate Dale Goodcourage of in Berkley had a similar response: "My first reaction after knowing a lot of veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan is: Hooray!"  

"I'm certain that morale is exceptionally boosted," among troops who are currently serving, Goodcourage said. "(Bin Laden's) death probably saved hundred of lives, if not thousands."

Williams said he hopes bin Laden's death means troops who have been deployed three, four or five times as part of the war on terror won't have to go again. But, he speculated the news will have a mixed impact.

"Where there's already hatred and distrust, it's probably going to make that worse," Williams said. "Where you have people working to make things better, it's probably going to make that better. That's true of both sides."

 to read the full text of the president's speech. Stay tuned to Berkley Patch for more local reaction.