U.S. President Barack Obama speaks to troops at Fort Campbell in Kentucky May 6, 2011. Obama addressed several military units that have recently returned from duty in Afghanistan. Also during his visit, Obama privately thanked some members of the elite special forces team involved in the raid that killed Osama bin Laden. At left is Vice President Joe Biden. [Xinhua/Reuters]

U.S. President Barack Obama on Friday visited troops that were responsible for the killing of al- Qaida mastermind Osama bin Laden, saying the country is making progress in defeating and dismantling al-Qaida, and is on track to withdraw troops from Afghanistan.

"We're making progress in our major goal...in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and that is disrupting and dismantling -- and we are going to ultimately defeat al-Qaida," said Obama at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

"Even before this week's operation," said Obama, referencing the raid on bin Laden's hideout in Pakistan, "we've put al-Qaida's leadership under more pressure than at any time since 9/11, on both sides of the border."

Obama said the progress demonstrated his strategy of sending 30, 000 more troops to Afghanistan is working, and in the coming months, the U.S. forces will start transferring responsibility for security to Afghan forces.

The President also reiterated the pledge to drawdown troops level in July, "starting this summer, we'll begin reducing American forces. As we transition, we'll build a long-term partnership with the Afghan people, so that al-Qaida can never again threaten America from that country."

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