Speaking at a ceremony marking the 11th anniversary of the 9-11 attacks, in Shanksville, Pennsylvania Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta mentioned al-Qaeda.

Al-Qaeda (translation: "The Base") is a global militant Islamist organization founded by Osama bin Laden.

“We have brought bin Laden to justice. We've decimated the leadership of Al Qaida. We have seriously undermined their ability to plan and conduct an attack similar to 9/11. And while Al Qaida still remains a threat, we have dealt a serious blow to their network.

Our troops are still fighting to deny safe haven to Al Qaida and to their extremist allies in Afghanistan. And we are continuing to fight them in Yemen, in Somalia and in North Africa. Make no mistake, we will pursue and we will fight them wherever they go.

There is no place that will be safe for them to hide from justice” (see transcript: Remarks by Secretary Panetta at the Flight 93 National Memorial.