Obama hails bin Laden killing amid warnings of retaliation

WASHINGTON — President Obama hailed the killing of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden as a moment of national pride Monday, even as his administration prepared for possible retaliation and repercussions.

Elijah Stevens, center, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y, visits Ground Zero with his daughter Caitlin, left, and wife, Stephanie, to show their support for the U.S. military and celebrate Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden's death on Monday.

By John Minchillo, AP

Elijah Stevens, center, of Poughkeepsie, N.Y, visits Ground Zero with his daughter Caitlin, left, and wife, Stephanie, to show their support for the U.S. military and celebrate Al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden's death on Monday.

Obama told a bipartisan gathering of lawmakers at the White House that the pride inspired by bin Laden's demise is "far deeper than party, far deeper than politics." He said he hopes to "harness some of that unity and some of that pride to confront the many challenges that we still face." Obama will go Thursday to Ground Zero in New York City.

As the nation awoke to the news that had eluded Republican and Democratic administrations for nearly 10 years, issues emerged about the future of bin Laden's terrorist network, the war in Afghanistan and the U.S. relationship with Pakistan, where he was hiding ? possibly for years.

And as details emerged about the operation carried out Sunday night by an elite team of Navy SEALs halfway around the world, questions were raised about some of the tactical decisions ? most notably burying bin Laden at sea. Counterterrorism adviser John Brennan said that was done as a matter of practicality and to comply with Islamic law, which says burial should occur within 24 hours of death.

None of the questions diminished the combined sense of joy and relief that followed the announcement of bin Laden's death. "The American psyche has been given a huge boost," said Lee Hamilton, former co-chair of the 9/11 Commission that led to changes in the nation's intelligence and homeland security operations.

Amid celebrations, law enforcement agencies boosted security in key cities and transportation hubs. No specific threat emerged, and travel flowed without incident, but homeland security officials put local authorities on notice that the killing could spark reprisals.

"Though bin Laden is dead, al-Qaeda is not," CIA Director Leon Panetta said in a message to the spy agency's employees. "The terrorists almost certainly will attempt to avenge him."

Details of the 40-minute raid emerged from White House and Pentagon briefings: Bin Laden was shot in the face. Four others were killed, including a woman at first thought to be his wife. As Pakistani military aircraft mobilized, a U.S. helicopter had to be destroyed before the SEALs made their getaway.

All the while, Obama and top administration officials monitored events in the Situation Room. Brennan called it "one of the most gutsiest calls of any president in recent memory."

As allies across the globe applauded bin Laden's death, officials were faced with possible repercussions:

•Has al-Qaeda been incapacitated? Not yet, said White House officials and lawmakers from both parties. But bin Laden's death was seen as a symbolic and strategic blow likely to create chaos within the group and its affiliates.

•Is Pakistan friend or foe? Bin Laden's ability to hide in a leafy Islamabad suburb cast doubt on whether the nuclear power had protected him.

Contributing: Alan Levin, Mimi Hall and Jim Michaels

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New terrorism alert system will offer specific warnings

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says the new alerts will contain "as many details as we can provide." STORY HIGHLIGHTSNEW: Secretary Napolitano says people ignored the old systemNapolitano says the new system will take effect April 26The new system has only two levels, compared to the previous system's fiveThe alerts have an expiration, unless new information comes to lightRELATED TOPICSTerrorismJanet NapolitanoU.S. Department of Homeland SecurityDomestic Security Policy New York (CNN) -- A new terrorism warning system will provide the public with information on specific threats, replacing the color-coded alerts put in place after the September 11, 2001, attacks, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said Wednesday.

In announcing the new system at New York City's Grand Central Terminal, commonly known as Grand Central Station, Napolitano said a main goal was to provide better understanding of the nature of the specific threat, what people should do in reaction to it and how they could help security officials in responding.

"It will provide alerts based on specific, credible information about potential terrorist activity," Napolitano said, adding that the alerts would contain "as many details as we can provide."

Right now, she said, there is no threat that would reach the level to warrant one of the new alerts, which will take effect on April 26.

Napolitano made the announcement in the city where more than 2,700 people were killed when two hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Center's twin towers.

She was joined by New York Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly and Republican Rep. Peter King of New York, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, who both praised the new National Terrorism Advisory System as an upgrade that enhances current security efforts.

However, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, the top Republican on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, cautioned that the new system must "effectively disseminate threat information in a timely manner and provide sound guidance to the public and affected homeland security partners on the actions they should take to protect themselves and the nation."

Collins urged Napolitano's department "to keep communication lines open with our state and local homeland security officials and with the private sector so that implementation of the system meets the vision" set by the secretary.

The new system has two levels of alerts, compared to the previous system's five levels, Napolitano said.

The two alert levels of the new system are "elevated threat," which "warns of a credible terrorist threat" to the United States; and "imminent threat," which "warns of a credible, specific and impending terrorist threat," according to a Department of Homeland Security statement.

Any alert will automatically expire after a two-week period, although they could be extended if new information shows a threat persists, DHS said.

Napolitano told reporters in a morning briefing that the alerts posted on a department website -- www.dhs.gov/alerts -- will provide details to show the nature, location and other information about terrorism threats. Therefore, she said, a specific warning may apply to a particular address, community, city or region, rather than the non-specific general warnings of the color-coded system.

Alerts also will be announced by her office and made public via traditional media such as television announcements and radio broadcasts, as well as social media, Napolitano said.

She conceded that the color-coded system "has faded in utility except for late-night comics," noting that the warning level at airports had been at orange since 2006.

"That's one of the reasons why people (stopped) paying attention to them," Napolitano said. Instead of a constant state of undefined warning, she said, the new system will react to actual threats.

"We don't want people to live in fear," she said. "We want people to live in a state of alert and awareness."

Her department is asking the public to be on alert for any suspicious activity, incorporating the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority's trademark slogan "If You See Something, Say Something" into its alerts.

Evaluating the current threat for Wednesday under the old system, the Department of Homeland Security put it at yellow, or elevated. Under the new system, it does not warrant an alert.

CNN's Jeanne Meserve contributed to this story.

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